The Saber
A diesel-electric series hybrid on a solid-axle race chassis. The diesel only makes electricity; a single traction motor drives all four wheels through a twin-stick transfer case.
By the numbers
Figures are engineering estimates at a 6,800 lb race weight and will be refined with logged test data.
Powertrain
- Architecture
- Series hybrid, diesel-electric
- Traction motor
- TT-EDU 300D
- Peak output
- 648 kW / 904 N·m
- Continuous
- 146 kW / 387 N·m
- Max speed
- 8,000 rpm (derate from 7,000)
- Generator
- Cummins QSF2.8 diesel genset
- Genset output
- ~50 kW continuous electrical
Energy
- Battery
- 55 kWh LFP (~45 kWh usable)
- Fuel
- Diesel, 40 gal cell
- Run time
- ~13–14 hr mixed course
- Fuel burn
- 2.4 gal/hr hard pack · 3.8 gal/hr sand
- Auxiliary loads
- ~4 kW (steering, pumps, cooling)
- Driveline efficiency
- ~88%
Driveline
- Transfer case
- NP205 twin stick
- Ratios
- 1:1 high · 3:1 low
- Front axle
- Currie Extreme 60, 72.5" WMS, driver drop
- Rear axle
- Currie 60
- Gearing
- 4.88
- Axle torque, high
- ~4,400 N·m peak / 1,890 continuous
Chassis & suspension
- Platform
- Jeep JL based
- Suspension
- Rock Krawler Rockzilla
- Front
- 3-link + track bar
- Rear
- 4-link on RK truss + track bar
- Shocks
- Fox 3.0 × 16 coilovers
- Towers
- GenRight
- Race weight
- 6,800 lb (estimate)
Steering
- Type
- Full hydraulic, no box or drag link
- Ram
- Howe 8" double-ended
- Valve
- Char-Lynn orbital
- Pump
- Electric hydraulic, 10 kW
Wheels & tires
- Tires
- Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T 40 × 13.50R17
- Wheels
- 17 × 9 beadlocks
- Track
- 76"
- Road-test setup
- 35" tires
Series hybrid
Diesel makes electricity. Electricity makes torque. The battery covers the peaks the generator can't.
Desert conditions at 6,800 lb
Electrical power needed to hold each speed, against the genset's 50 kW continuous output.
| Condition | Force at tires | Power | vs. genset | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard pack · 40 mph | ~360 lbf | ~32 kW | High or low | |
| Gravel · 25 mph | ~510 lbf | ~29 kW | High or low | |
| Loose sand · 25 mph | ~1,050 lbf | ~60 kW | Low · battery assist | |
| 20% climb · 5 mph | ~1,730 lbf | ~20 kW | Low | |
| 40% climb · 5 mph | ~2,900 lbf | ~33 kW | Low · short bursts |
Sand is the test
Loose sand at 25 mph pulls about 64 kW with accessories. The battery covers the gap for roughly 3 hours of continuous sand.
Climbs on demand
A 40% grade needs about 2,900 lbf, well inside the ~5,850 lbf peak. Short, steep pitches are no problem.
High is for transit
High range handles fast hard pack. Low range does the work in sand, loaded gravel and every climb.
Genset sets the pace
For long sand sections the generator, not the motor, is the limit. That's where development is focused.
Built for long days. Other trucks stop for fuel; The Saber keeps going. Fuel plans are built from these figures and refined with logged test data.