[WinstonSmith1984]

Cuban Leaf, agreed. IF the system is reliable. Heavy fuel hybrid electrics add an another degree of freedom. Tanks spend a lot of time quietly sitting overwatch. If we can charge them externally while they wait patiently for their victim to appear... that said, they still need immediate and massive power to be able to transit long distances at high speed and be refueled quickly. I would like to see this the data on range and a comparison to the M1A.

[cuban leaf]

The whole idea behind a hybrid is that it has an ICE as well as electric power. The electric adds torque and reclaims energy on braking, and the batteries are also charged while running on ICE power. And on a side note, it can also add absurdly quiet operation when electric only.

My daughter has a Chrysler Pacifica “plug-in” hybrid mini-van. It has the normal V6 engine as well as electric power. It will go 35 miles on electric only, and will do just fine if you never plug it in, just like a Prius.

So, as long as this thing is reliable, this is a serious improvement from pure ICE power, IMO.

[GingisK]

It is just like an Abrams except the turbine engine has been dumped in favor of a diesel-electric hybrid. It uses fuel at 50% the rate of the M1A with the same performance. Using an unmanned turret eliminates the bulky mechanisms and a lot of electrical slip rings. The crew is safer because the armor can be thicker and the ammo is outside of the crew compartment. Many drive components have been eliminated due to the use of electric drive motors, increasing the weight allotment toward more armor.

It is a good design.