ePropelled Expands Hercules Hybrid Power Line for Drones
ePropelled has expanded its Hercules line for hybrid uncrewed propulsion. The 2026 update broadens the company’s starter generator family for uncrewed aerial, ground and marine platforms. The systems target manufacturers seeking longer endurance, higher usable payload and lighter integrated power architectures.
The Hercules family spans about 500 W to 12 kW. It combines electric efficiency with the endurance of combustion engines, allowing hybrid systems to support longer missions while reducing acoustic signatures. ePropelled said the updated line adds wider power classes, more refined performance tiers, improved thermal resilience for high-temperature and high-altitude environments, and higher power density at lower weight.
The series includes multiple starter generator models as well as intelligent power systems and controllers for hybrid propulsion integration. Hercules connects with ePropelled’s ePConnected ecosystem, which provides real-time monitoring of voltage, current, RPM, temperature and power output through CAN-based interfaces and open APIs. That data supports real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance and mission-specific performance tuning for uncrewed systems.
The 2026 update also tightens integration with the company’s electronic speed controllers and Intelligent Power Systems. The changes are aimed at energy distribution, system coordination and operational reliability across hybrid platforms. ePropelled is also expanding customization for OEMs, including configurable power outputs, flexible mounting for air, land and marine vehicles, custom control interfaces, and starter-generator-to-propulsion motor conversion for boost and maneuvering support.
Chief Executive Nick Grewal said the expansion reflects rising demand for smarter and more adaptable hybrid power across uncrewed systems. ePropelled holds more than 40 patents across 13 categories and operates research, engineering and manufacturing facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom and India. The update could give drone and robotics manufacturers a broader path to extend mission endurance, improve system efficiency and tailor hybrid propulsion for air, land and sea operations.