Ersan Akyazı, the E-Mobility Drive Systems Specialist at FNSS, has emphasized that the shift from traditional diesel power units to hybrid technology has the potential to substantially bolster domestic production capacities.
FNSS, a prominent manufacturer of armored vehicles in the defense industry, introduced its “KAPLAN HYBRID” armored vehicle at the International Defense Industry Fair IDEF2023.
In an exclusive interview with Defensehere.com, Ersan Akyazı, the specialist in E-Mobility Drive Systems at the company, delved into the rationale behind the development of the KAPLAN HYBRID and the advantages of its hybrid design.
Akyazı underscored that the KAPLAN HYBRID model leverages the platform of the KAPLAN STA Armored Combat Vehicle:
“The KAPLAN HYBRID represents a research and development project. The primary motivation for opting for a hybrid design is the current limitations of battery technology, preventing us from achieving the desired operational ranges in military vehicles with a purely electric powertrain, as you rightly pointed out. Consequently, we have employed a generator-driven system as the primary power source, complemented by high-voltage batteries generating electricity.
Electric Motors Propelling the Vehicle
Our vehicle adopts a series hybrid configuration, wherein electric motors assume full responsibility for propelling the vehicle, eliminating any direct connection between the internal combustion engine and the tracks. What does this approach offer for the future? For instance, should significant advancements occur in battery technology, we can dispense with the generator and expand the battery capacity, ultimately realizing a fully electric platform under the same architecture.
Localization of Electric Motors
In essence, the core objective of this project revolves around localization. The rationale behind this pursuit is our profound dependence on foreign sources for transmissions in tracked vehicles. With the introduction of this hybrid solution, we are able to eliminate the conventional transmission systems found in tracked vehicles, replacing them with relatively simpler gearboxes designed and manufactured by FNSS. In terms of electric motors, the domestic market hosts numerous highly capable potential firms. Consequently, localizing electric motors is a natural progression, and we are concurrently actively engaged in localization efforts. While our batteries are produced domestically, with the current version on the vehicle being imported, we have also developed a domestic battery. Although there remains some reliance on cell components from foreign sources, Turkish companies have embarked on cell manufacturing. As you may be aware, Aspilsan is presently producing domestic cells. To sum up, the shift from conventional diesel power units to a hybrid architecture presents the opportunity for a substantial enhancement of our domestic production capabilities.”