US military has approved funding for the development of a stealth motorcycle that would allow soldiers to drive for long periods of time on rough terrain without emitting engine noise.
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has recently given a small business innovation research grant to Virginia-based Logos Technologies to develop the bikes.
Logos has developed a multifuel hybrid-electric power system, that can be run in a near-silent electric mode.
The plan is to put that system into an off-road platform made by project partner BRD, a San Francisco company that manufactures electric motorcycles, according to 'Gizmag'.
"This initiative will be the first time that a two-wheel-drive, multifuel hybrid capability has been integrated into a full-size off-road motorcycle," Logos said in a statement.
"Quieted, all-wheel-drive capability at extended range in a lightweight, rugged, single-track vehicle could support the successful operations of US expeditionary and special forces in extreme terrain conditions and contested environments," said Wade Pulliam, manager of advanced concepts at Logos.
Besides helping to keep the bikes from being heard by enemy forces, the electric drive system will allow them to go farther than they could on fuel alone, while the option of running on fuel will in turn give them more range than would be offered by a pure-electric setup.
Moreover, the hybrid drive system could be used to produce electricity for powering other devices while in the field.
