The first all-electric Quad bike offering the ca­pability required by military operators was launched at DSEI 2021. The bike results from a partnership between two leading UK based all-terrain vehicle specialists – Supacat, devel­oper of Jackal and special forces vehicles, and Eco Charger, a leading manufacturer of elec­tric Quad bikes.

Both Eco Charger and Supacat are champion­ing their commitment to developing ‘Green Credentials’ – em­bracing the global ‘Race to Zero’ initiative, with energy-saving, electrification and hybridisation technologies being the inno­vative key to current and future vehicle development. Eco Charger recently introduced a range of Lithium powered quads providing a viable ‘green’ alternative to traditional pet­rol-driven vehicles – being equivalent in terms of endurance, performance, operational range and running costs.

The Electric-All Terrain Vehicle (E-ATV), Vizsla, is based on Eco Charger’s latest Lithium Prestige 4WD Quad workhorse, which is capable of speeds up to 65kmph. The two UK compa­nies collaborated to modify the E-ATV for military operations, including achieving a range extension to over 150km. Vizsla equals the performance of regular ATVs and opens up new tactical options for using Quads on operations. A low acoustic signature below 70dB and zero EMC emission mean less chance of detection, allowing soldiers to operate closer and faster in and out of enemy positions.

In addition, the large onboard battery capacity makes it possi­ble to charge personal equipment, such as sights and radios. Vizsla also benefits from Eco Charger’s hot-swap battery sys­tem – this enables the payload to be varied to optimise the bal­ance between range and payload for individual missions. Supacat will be Prime Contractor and provide support with spares, repairs, training, and post-design services. Eco Charger will supply the systems from its Weston-Super-Mare facility to Supacat for assembly at its Devon facility.

The military E-ATV follows on from Supacat’s work with Exeter University on the Electric All-Terrain Military Platform (ATMP) and on a hybrid drive version of its Jackal vehicle for the UK MoD working with NP Aerospace and Magtec under the Pro­tected Mobility Engineering & Technical Support (PMETS) programme.

The Electric-All Terrain Vehicle, Vizsla, allows soldiers to operate closer and faster in and out of enemy positions