Image source: topwar.ru
The Turkish company Makine ve Kimya Endüstri (MKE) has announced the completion of qualification tests of the E-ZPT armored personnel carrier with an electric drive capable of traveling hundreds of kilometers. The army has already received the first copy in serial configuration.
The tests were conducted from October 14, 2024 for 376 days. During this time, the APC traveled 800 km on paved roads, 1600 km in the field and 600 km in conditions simulating a battlefield. The tests included climbing with a steepness of 60°, moving with a side roll of 30° and at temperatures from -49 °C to 32°C.
Image source: topwar.ru
The E-ZPT is based on a significantly modified American M113 APC. It is equipped with an electric drive that provides improved driving dynamics, reduced thermal and acoustic footprint, and lower maintenance and repair costs. The power reserve on the battery is 150 km, and with the support of the generator, it increases to 650 km. The battery charging time from 20% to 80% is 1.5 hours.
Image source: topwar.ru
The vehicle's armament consists of a remotely controlled UKS combat station with a 12.7mm machine gun. During the testing, test firings were also successfully conducted. As a result, the hull of the car was modified: now it accommodates 7 people, including 3 crew members. In the production configuration, the combat weight of the APC is approximately 15,000 kg, of which 2,500 kg is the payload. The dimensions are 5.35 m long, 2.7 m wide and 2.25 m high.
