Electric Tractor

[KennyG]

They have self driving cars, why not tractors? Push the "plow the lower 40" button

There are lots of self driving tractors. They use GPS to most efficiently cover the field for the task at hand.

 

[gary49]

There are lots of self driving tractors. They use GPS to most efficiently cover the field for the task at hand.

Combines, too. I rode for a couple of loads with the farmer who rents the fields at my family's place in coastal Va. I was amazed at the electronics--it kept track of everything--moisture content, rate of harvest, amount of beans in the bin, etc. That data is stored so that come Spring, they fertilize only to expected yield. The combine drove itself on a pattern that had been set up when it was planted. He told me the combine was capable of pairing with a driverless tractor pulling a wagon if they wanted to unload into the wagon while harvesting. The combine was 10 years old at the time--no doubt further advances have occurred in the meantime.

 

[Diggin It]

Everything consumes something someone would rather not consume.

Even if solar panels become efficient enough to be usable on roof panels of vehicles to charge the batteries and batteries become small and efficient to handle the loads, there is still a matter of where the components come from. There's a lot of mining involved to get the elements to make electronics. Electric power may seem simple, but it's a resource hog from everything needed to construct the plants and generate the power, to what all is necessary to deliver it to us.

There isn't a simple, inexpensive, clean solution. Yet.

 

[Jchonline]

The real issue with battery is charge and discharge rates in extreme temperatures. By extreme I mean not around 60 like it is in CA. I have been reading up on Tesla and similar brands now that a fair number of them are on the road. The discharge rate is doubled when you are at freezing (32F) so you get 1/2 the battery life. Manufacturers will need to figure out a way to protect the batteries from external temperature before they become a real option. I dont even consider Teslas to be an option in CO. If I cant make it through the mountains in a snow storm it is worthless to me.

 

[prof fate]

they have that..it's called 'precision agriculture'. The tractors drive themselves for seeding, the combines for harvesting. You just sit there.

They have self driving cars, why not tractors? Push the "plow the lower 40" button

 

[prof fate]

We're long overdue for an electric tractor from one of the majors. Be A LOT quieter and would service most of us who probably use our tractors less then 4 hours on a given day.

Ralph

they have several electric zero turns for sale now.

I've heard of elec tractors..they exist.

And ford announced the next gen mustang will be 100% elec..due in 2023 I think they said. THey're gonna skip the hybrid version. it will be based on the next ford car, due in 2021 I think they said, that is all -electric.

Within 5 years half of all new cars will be electric.

How that will work in cold climates I don't know.

 

[prof fate]

The real issue with battery is charge and discharge rates in extreme temperatures. By extreme I mean not around 60 like it is in CA. I have been reading up on Tesla and similar brands now that a fair number of them are on the road. The discharge rate is doubled when you are at freezing (32F) so you get 1/2 the battery life. Manufacturers will need to figure out a way to protect the batteries from external temperature before they become a real option. I dont even consider Teslas to be an option in CO. If I cant make it through the mountains in a snow storm it is worthless to me.

I'm in western PA and see a number of teslas - even saw one on the PA turnpike in the mountains..brave souls or lots more range that I thought!

From what I understand from my research you plug in to charge - and a heater for the battery (and interior of car even) will kick on. So when you leave home you're in a armed up car with a warm batter - no effect on range.

At work, sitting 8 hours? Not sure. Making heat via resistance takes a lot of energy, but I beleive these elec cars are liquid cooled, so there may be interior/battery heat there. And more places have plug ins for elec cars - many parking garages, the local museum has had it for a few years now in 4 spots. I've heard the PA turnpike has or will have them at rest stops.

Just this week I read that they now have chargers that can charge at a rate of 20 miles a minute...so 10 minutes gives you 200 miles. The batteries to take this charge are still in development.

so yeah, give it 5 years and it won't be an issue.

 

[vvanders]

Sub freezing temps are closer to 30% range loss in my experience over the last couple years. Heating ahead of time helps a bit but the primary loss at low temperature is air resistance. It goes up by V squared so cruising at 70 vs 60 takes 36% more juice. Anyone who's towed with a good headwind has seen this in their mileage.

Good news is my Kubota tops out at 15mph so we won't be worrying about air resistance there.

 

[prof fate]

Sub freezing temps are closer to 30% range loss in my experience over the last couple years. Heating ahead of time helps a bit but the primary loss at low temperature is air resistance. It goes up by V squared so cruising at 70 vs 60 takes 36% more juice. Anyone who's towed with a good headwind has seen this in their mileage.

Good news is my Kubota tops out at 15mph so we won't be worrying about air resistance there.

Interesting. I've noticed a 30% drop or so in mileage on my outback..figured it was heat waste - taking the engine up to operating temp from 20F instead of 70F.

Hadn't give much thoguht to air resistance, though have thought about a dirty car (salt and such) and rolling resistance when teh road is mucky.

My MPG is back up in the car now - 440 on a full tank vs 320ish in the cold weather.

I have some li-ion power tool at the barn...when it's 20F they don't work - at all. Needs to be 30 or higher.

 

[/pine]

...I've heard of elec tractors..they exist....

They also have things like flying cars...does not mean they are practical or available to the public etc...