Electric Farm Tractors: Can Battery Engine Take Over Diesel Engine?

Diesel engines are said to be highly effective in the works related to farms, but they are also known for being the highest contributor to the emerging problem of global warming on the planet.

Apart from damaging and having adverse effects on water, soil, and air, they are also responsible for causing several diseases related to cardiovascular and respiratory systems because of the emission coming out from diesel engines.

Modern agriculture technology is helping farmers in getting a solution to the rising problems caused by diesel engines and in increasing crop production at lower expenses. For instance, electric farm tractors are being viewed as a sustainable option.

Electric tractors and Their Need

Traditional tractors were powered using engines that were dependable on gasoline or diesel for operating, but electric farm tractors are different.

These modern electric farm tractors are operated using electric engines that are powered by batteries. In comparison to diesel variants, electric tractors are eco-friendly and need less maintenance. Electric tractors can be charged using the charger connected to a power source rather than depending on widely unsustainable fossil fuels. Diesel tractors require a fully rebuilt engine once it has been operated for more than 6000 hours, which can be high in cost

The market value of global electric farm tractors in 2020 was $116.5 million. As per the report of BIS Research, the global electric farm tractor market is supposed to grow and touch $218.9 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 11.1%. The growth in the market is anticipated due to the rising demand for automation and agriculture digitization.

Working of Electric Farm Tractors

Just like diesel tractors, electric farm tractors can also be used for performing different farming and agriculture activities. Electric tractors can be used in the greenhouse, agriculture fields, shifting production from one place to another, and in horticultural farms.

Since the operating cost of electric tractors is low compared to diesel tractors, farmers can do more activities by spending less.

Today, there are different variations of electric tractors available in the market, for example, the John Deere electric tractor, launched in 2016. It is a fully autonomous tractor based on electric power that can conduct various farming activities. Additionally, this electric tractor model is completely emission-free and noise-free, thus providing benefits to the planet and the farmers.

Benefits of Electric Farm Tractors

Although the idea of electric farm tractors is new in the agriculture industry, it has several benefits and capabilities of taking the future of the agriculture industry toward betterment. Following are the benefits of electric farm tractors:

• Zero Emissions

Electric farm tractors are powered by batteries; they generate zero amount of harmful emissions from the electric engine that can result in global warming. This single reason is driving several automobile industries toward manufacturing vehicles that can perform on engines powered by a battery.

• Noiseless

Tractors’ engines make a lot of noise, but electric tractor engines are different and famous for their noiseless engines. When farmers use the tractors on the farming land, the noise being caused by them can be highly irritated by others.

So, electric farm tractors can provide a solution by making the engines completely noiseless. It can have a great effect on the conditions of working farmers.

• Fuel-Efficient

Being cost-effective and fuel-effective is another significant benefit to adopting electric tractors for the farms. Farmers do not need to be dependable on expensive fuels like diesel.

As per the agriculture industry, it requires 10 units of fuel for providing a single unit of the crop. All these problems can be improved with the adoption of electric farm tractors. These tractors can be charged using the local power grids and result in saving money for the farmers due to spending less on fossil fuel bills.

• Programmable

Several manufacturers of tractors are modernizing their tractor functions to add extra value. Autonomous tractors can be highly helpful to farmers and get the assigned task done at a much higher speed, without any need for continuous supervision.

Challenges in Adopting Electric Farm Tractors:

• Operating Duration

While diesel tractors can be used for as long as their fuel tanks are being filled, it takes time for the electric tractors to get back to work after their battery gets low. It is due to the time which batteries take to charge themselves.

• Recharging Stations

Batteries used in the electric farm tractors cannot be charged anywhere or on the farms. To get the batteries charged, electric farm tractors need to visit the charging stations, which can be a highly time-consuming task, and the number of charging stations at present is less.

Conclusion

Electric farm tractors can play a crucial role in assisting farmers in their daily farm work in the field. Also, these tractors can reduce the emissions being generated by the farming industries. All manufacturers of tractors may need to switch to electric tractors manufacturing, considering the benefits of the same are being recognized by farmers across the globe.