American Rheinmetall was awarded an 18-month U.S. Army contract to develop and deliver an autonomous hybrid ground vehicle. The defense contractor will use Harbinger’s extended-range plug-in hybrid platform, which was designed in the U.S. The platform uses a small gas engine in conjunction with a large high-voltage battery and an electric motor. Despite its maker billing it as a plug-in hybrid setup, it’s actually an extended-range EV because there’s no physical connection between the gas engine and the wheels. That’s great news for American Rheinmetall, which is the prime contractor for the U.S. Army’s new project.