Source: Questline

From family farms to commercial farming operations, the U.S. agriculture industry is powered by diesel tractors. As the world looks to reduce carbon emissions and farmers are looking to reduce costs, some in the industry wonder if electric tractors are a viable solution.

Fuel and labor are two of the most significant expenses a farmer has, and electric tractors could address both. Battery-operated tractors reduce fuel costs, and because they have fewer moving parts, they require less maintenance. Plus, many electric tractors coming on to the market are autonomous, which improves efficiencies. Over the past few years, electric tractors have gained a small foothold in the market as battery technology and artificial intelligence advanced. However, there are still some significant challenges to overcome before every barn in America has an electric tractor.

Logistical challenges

The development of electric tractors has been slow, in part because of some obstacles manufacturers must overcome to meet the specific demands of the agriculture market.

First, battery life and charging infrastructure must be practical for farmers. Tractors can run more than 15 hours a day during peak planting and harvest seasons, so the battery needs to last. Tractors also need to be able to pull heavy trailers and farming implements. The heavier the load, the faster the battery will be depleted. Charging is further complicated because a tractor may spend days or weeks in a distant field rather than coming back to the barn each night. To be viable, electric tractor manufacturers must address these issues.

Swapping out batteries is the easiest solution, but that takes time — and that’s time not spent in the field. If a farmer is racing to get crops harvested before a cold snap, or fields planted in an abbreviated planting season, they don’t always have the luxury of time. Using bigger batteries is another potential solution, but that adds more weight to the tractor. Not only are bigger batteries harder to swap out, but a heavier tractor can compact the soil and hinder sustainable no-till farming methods.

Fortunately, the electric passenger vehicle industry is driving advancements in battery technology. The lessons learned to create today’s more powerful, longer lasting, and lighter weight EV batteries can be applied to tomorrow’s heavy-duty agriculture equipment.

The market today

There are a handful of players currently selling electric tractors. Most are compact models, like those produced by Soletrac. Ideal for small farms, vineyards and orchards, the company sells three different electric tractors. Their largest, the 70 horsepower e70N, has a three- to eight-hour runtime on a single charge, and the battery is easy to swap out for longer days. Batteries can even be recharged in six hours with an 8 kW solar array.

Monarch Tractor is another notable player. Relatively small, Monarch’s MK-V is ideal for smaller farming operations. The tractor’s battery will last at least 10 hours for average tasks, like spraying fields. The tractors can hook up to most farm implements, including trailers and plows. Monarch is taking advantage of advancements in artificial intelligence to produce fully autonomous tractors. Farmers can remotely control a small fleet of MK-Vs as they work the fields.

Big players electrify

The more prominent tractor manufacturers like John Deere and Kubota are also working on electric concepts. Deere seems to be primarily focused on developing technology for autonomous tractors. However, they did acquire an EV battery manufacturer in late 2021, so there may be a big green electric tractor. Kubota is also working on an electric prototype for a compact tractor.