PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTING ELECTRIC TRUCKS IN DRIVER TRAINING FOR MILITARY NEEDS

This article analyzes the prospects for integrating electric trucks into the driver training process for military applications. The study focuses on assessing the current state of freight transport electrification, its challenges, and near-term prospects. Additionally, it examines the pressing issue of enhancing the efficiency of vehicle operation training courses in the context of rising fuel costs and the need to optimize the training process. This optimization must account for the broad range of vehicles adopted over the past few years in response to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation. The study considers electric transport as a promising alternative to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, particularly in driver training, given global economic and technological trends as well as political developments within the EU and NATO. The inclusion of global warming and environmental preservation in NATO’s list of key security threats in 2021, coupled with Ukraine’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership in the near future, further reinforces the rationale for adopting more environmentally sustainable transport solutions in the country's security and defense sector. Among the key advantages of using electric trucks for training purposes, the study highlights the significant reduction in fuel and maintenance costs, the ability to simulate various driving modes and vehicle characteristics, and the capacity of electronic control systems to mitigate errors made by inexperienced drivers. Additionally, electric trucks offer ease of maintenance and high cost efficiency within the training cycle. These benefits are particularly relevant given the specifics of driver training, which typically involve frequent stops, low average speeds, and short daily mileage. The gradual introduction of electric transport, initially in rear-echelon training units, already appears to be a viable step. This move could serve as an important milestone toward the broader electrification of automotive transport within Ukraine’s security and defense sector.