YAKUTSK, March 13. /TASS/. By involving the Burlak off-road vehicles, Yakutia may use winter ice and snow roads longer to cut costs of the Northern Supplies to the region, the Russian Union of Rescuers' leader of the regional branch and a well-known polar explorer Nikolay Nakhodkin told reporters.
On February, 20, the expedition, dubbed North is Near. Yakut Trails, left Yakutsk heading for the Arctic and far-away districts. The voyage finished on March 6. The route was about 3,000 km long. The task was to test Burlak ORVs (off-road vehicles) of the cargo-passenger and the expedition modifications in the Yakut conditions. The vehicles' exploitation temperature range is from minus 60 to plus 40 degrees.
"Burlaks can carry up to six passengers, as well as two tons of cargo. By using these all-terrain vehicles, the region could extend the Northern Supplies' terms by three to four months in small settlements, and in some cases replace the so-called 'green trips'. Compare: the 'green trip' carrying two tons of potatoes to the center of the Even-Bytantay District, where we have been, costs about 2.5 million rubles ($32,800)," he said, stressing the use of ORVs is most reasonable in the current climate change, and in the changing terms of available winter roads.
During the expedition, the travelers brought, for example, to the Sebyan-Kyuel village (the Kobyaisk District) food products for the kindergarten - eggs, vegetables and fruit. Additionally, from that district a deer herder was delivered to Yakutsk to undergo necessary medical tests.
To connect small settlements
According to the expert, the Burlaks can provide year-round ground communication between small villages, for example in the remote Olenek District. "We can also see that the off-road vehicles could be used to ensure routine medical examination of people living in small villages," he said.
The vehicles can favor cheaper field studies, the development of comfortable domestic tourism. The project featured representatives of Yakutia's North-Eastern Federal University. "For example, during the expedition in the upper reaches of the Nelya River (the Yana River basin) we saw for the first time the habitat of river otters' population," he added.
Over the expedition's 13 days, the travelers covered about 3,000 km across various landscapes, including off-road conditions, mountain passes, and ice. The route went across the Kobyai, Verkhoyansk, Even-Bytantay districts.
Animal trails
About 2,000 km the travelers drove the routes of the Soviet times' winter roads. "Another 500 km off-road we drove almost along animal trails," he continued, adding during the expedition the minimum air temperature was minus 54 degrees.
According the Burlak ORV Company's test site expert Artem Petrov, the Yakut landscapes are different from the typical tundra because in that region there are many deep rivers with large voids and non-freezing waters. "It was amazing to me that at minus 40 we were falling through the ice. We have witnessed a Kamaz and an Ural (trucks) got stuck in that area. Thanks to our big wheels, we were able to pass safely the ice and dips," he told TASS.
Quite a challenge was to climb uphill (up to 20 degrees), as well as to test the ergonomics, comfort, fuel consumption at various types of terrain. The vehicle's average speed with a trailer on winter roads made about 40-50 km/h, and off-road - about 20 km/h.
"In different regions the vehicles behave differently. Two years ago, in cooperation with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, in Yakutia we tested the expedition model. It is for the first time in the region that we have tested a cargo and passenger model with a trailer to see how the vehicles will behave in transport and logistics chains," he continued.
One of the vehicles that took part in the expedition will remain in Yakutsk at the Ministry of Emergency Situations' local unit. "Another two off-road vehicles are due to be supplied to the local search and rescue teams under state contracts," he said, adding the vehicles had aroused great interest among representatives of local administrations, engaged in organization of supplies.
About company
Burlak off-road vehicles of various modifications, assembled as a pilot production, have been operating in the Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi, Yamalo-Nenets, Komi, Yakutia, Krasnoyarsk, Trans-Baikal, Sverdlovsk and Magadan regions, as well as in the Antarctica. The ORVs have passed tests by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, paramilitary structures, large resource extraction companies. In September 2021, Burlak equipped with Purga-40 systems took part in the Arctic exercises of the national Emergency Situations Ministry.
The Burlak Off-Road Vehicles Company produces universal heavy-duty vehicles since 2015. At first, the Burlak off-road vehicle was designed for long-term autonomous expeditions to the Arctic. The vehicles have been used for a wide range of tasks - from cargo transportation to well drilling. The company manufactures off-road vehicles of various models and 13 modifications.