The U.S. Army is about to start testing a four-wheeled electric scooter known as the EZRaider at the annual Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) taking place in Fort Benning, Georgia. AWE is used to conduct war games and mock battles designed to give soldiers the opportunity to test out new and experimental equipment. This scooter-like ATV can ride either with a soldier driving or semi-autonomously. It can carry up to two people and pull a two-wheel, specially designed trailer for casualty or equipment transport. Both two- and four-wheel versions are available. It can fold onto itself for storage and transport. The EZRaider has already been purchased by various army and police units around the world, namely U.S. Special Forces, the Dutch army and Israeli Police and Border Guard.
The EZRaider has no equivalent in the electric mobility space, combining the riding position of a jet ski with the stability of an ATV. It features patent-pending long-travel suspension that allows each wheel to move independently both vertically and horizontally. The device’s tall handlebars provide extra stability while its off-road tires offer traction in varied terrain. The vehicle is available in a large number of variations, with power ranging from 2.4 kW up to 18 kW, and battery capacity ranging from 1.7 to 3 kWh. Options are available for either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It can also operate in extreme temperatures of heat and cold (-20 to +75°C). The EZRaider is designed to carry up to 200 kg (440 lb) in its most rugged model. It can also tow a specially-designed trailer.
The Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments this year focused on six categories: lethality, mission command, mobility, survivability, sustainment, team and soldier performance. The AEWE began in 2004 to focus modernization effort on the small unit. They run in two phases, the first phase, from October to January, are standalone and live fire events with each system. The force-on-force experiments begins in February and will run for three weeks. The annual event culminates on March 17 with a an “Insights Day” at Fort Benning, Georgia, that includes briefings on gear tested and how soldiers used it during the experimentation.
