FluxCapacity
Home of Project MOAB, a series diesel-electric hybrid race truck built to run the Baja desert on 40-inch tires.
Built in the garage.
Proven in the dirt.
Flux Capacity Racing is an off-road race team building something the desert hasn't seen much of: a full-size, solid-axle race truck driven entirely by an electric motor and fed by an onboard diesel generator.
No compromises on toughness. Currie 60 axles, beadlock wheels, long-travel coilovers and full hydraulic steering, wrapped around a powertrain designed to go the distance in Baja.
Engineer it
Every bracket, link and ram is laid out, modeled and checked before the first tack weld.
Electrify it
Instant torque from a traction motor, with a diesel genset so we never wait on a charger.
Race it
Logged data from every test run feeds the next version. Baja is the proving ground.
The Truck
A JLU-based race truck on Rock Krawler Rockzilla suspension with a series hybrid drivetrain. The engine never turns the wheels: it makes electricity, and the motor does the rest.
Series Hybrid
Diesel makes electricity. Electricity makes torque. The battery fills the gaps when the desert asks for more than the generator can give.
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 Baja-length days. Fuel plans for the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 are being built from these figures and refined with logged test data.
On the Bench
MOAB is mid-build. Here's where things stand.
Powertrain
Genset intake and hybrid powertrain layout. Desert performance model run at race weight.
Chassis layout
Axle, link and coilover geometry drawn and checked in 3D. Race cage designed.
Steering
Moved to full hydraulic steering with a double-ended ram and electric pump.
Shakedown
Fabrication, first drive and data logging to validate the model. Then: Baja.
Get on
the truck.
Hybrid desert racing is new ground, and the brands that come along get seen on it. We offer livery placement, build content and technical partnerships.
Title
Primary livery, naming on the truck and all team content.
Technical
Parts and engineering partners, featured in build coverage.
Supporter
Decal placement and a spot on this site.