The US Department of Defense has awarded GM Defense a contract to prototype an energy storage unit for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
The agreement supports the DIU’s Stable Tactical Expeditionary Electric Power (STEEP) program to produce energy management solutions and tactical microgrids in harsh environments.
Through STEEP, US defense can reduce logistical challenges and reliance on fossil fuels as their main energy source.
GM Defense will leverage its proprietary Ultium Platform electric vehicle propulsion system to provide a “scalable and adaptable” energy storage unit supporting US warfighters’ tactical energy requirements.
STEEP Energy Storage Solution
According to GM Defense, the STEEP prototype solution enables efficient and uninterrupted power for mission-critical assets, including radar, command and control, and weapons systems in austere and remote locations that lack stable power grids.
The energy storage system also provides “intelligent” military microgrid capabilities that interoperate with stationary and mobile battery electric power, hydrogen-powered generators, and existing fuel-powered generators for sustainable power distribution and management.
“This contract award demonstrates our ability to leverage advanced commercial technologies and investments from our parent company, GM, to reduce warfighter fuel consumption, and lower acoustic and thermal signatures, while providing efficient energy at the tactical edge,” GM Defense President Steve duMont stated.
“We are proud to win another contract award with DIU, whose mission to accelerate the adoption of commercial technology across the US military aligns with our efforts to transition global defense and government customers to a more electric, autonomous and connected future.”
Supporting DIU, US Marine Corps
GM Defense’s prototyping contract follows a DIU award in October 2022 seeking a battery prototype based on the Ultium Platform for a separate energy-related program.
The Jumpstart for Advanced Batter Standardization (JABS) project expanded the integration of high-voltage battery packs for its Multi-Mission and Logistics vehicle products.
The current STEEP program will build on findings collected from JABS as GM Defense continues to invest in battery electric capabilities supporting DIU programs as well as future US Marine Corps projects.
