What occurs when a maker of tiny electrical autos dips its wheels into the navy industrial advanced? We’re about to search out out.

On Monday, Arcimoto stated it’s diversifying past its common enterprise through a partnership with Division of Protection contractor Matbock. That’s a primary for the EV startup, which is finest identified for its doorless “enjoyable utility autos.”

Arcimoto additionally makes an “e-trike” and a few business autos, together with this impossibly small field truck (within the loosest sense) and an EV for paramedics. Along with all that, Arcimoto stated in an announcement that it’ll promote “electrical methods structure and power storage methods” to Matbock, which makes “hybrid-electric tactical autos.” Matbock additionally sells looking gear, camo journey luggage and an attire line which may enchantment to somebody like Volodymyr Zelensky.

The deal could seem out of nowhere for Arcimoto, which has centered on issues like supplying autos for scenic excursions, nevertheless it’s apparently not a lot of a departure for the corporate’s newest CEO, Chris Dawson. The manager advised TechCrunch in April that he had beforehand consulted with the Division of Protection.

In line with Dawson, the Matbock deal will in the end “help the navy’s efforts to enhance tactical capabilities and operational efficiencies by means of the adoption of American-made inexperienced power expertise.” The U.S. navy is among the many planet’s worst local weather polluters. Researchers argue that the navy should shrink with a view to meaningfully decarbonize.

For its half, Arcimoto is trying to find methods to maintain its doorways open. The corporate kicked off the yr with a warning that it had “substantial doubt about [its] capacity to proceed” working. Since then, the agency says it’s secured almost $25 million through three separate fundraises — together with a $6.7 million providing earlier this month. Arcimoto is because of share its newest financials with traders on August 24.