Assessing National Security Risks and Benefits of Electric Vehicle (EV) Tractor Trailers

Evaluating the national security implications of electric vehicle (EV) tractor trailers requires considering a variety of factors:

1. Dependency on Foreign Resources: EVs, including tractor trailers, heavily rely on critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These are often extracted from regions with geopolitical tensions, potentially jeopardizing supply security if disruptions occur.
2. Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: The increased digitalization and connectivity inherent in EVs heighten their exposure to cyber threats. A cyberattack on a network of interconnected trucks could significantly disrupt logistical operations and transportation.
3. Energy Grid Reliance: The transition to electric tractor trailers would increase the demand on the national power grid. Vulnerabilities or failures within the grid could severely affect transportation logistics.
4. Challenges of Transition: Moving from diesel to electric tractor trailers requires significant changes in infrastructure and vehicle technology. This period of transition could expose new vulnerabilities, from untested technologies to a shortage of skilled workers familiar with these new systems.
5. Environmental and Economic Benefits: Conversely, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions could strengthen national security by addressing climate change—a known disruptor of global stability. Additionally, the shift to EVs could foster domestic economic benefits through new technological innovations.

These factors outline a landscape where both the risks and benefits must be carefully balanced. Addressing these challenges effectively requires robust policies, comprehensive cybersecurity defenses, and strategies for diversifying and securing supply chains.