First electric tractor ride

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I have a few issues here. 1. No battery is lasting 10 years. If they're warrantying it they're gonna be coming out of pocket alot, not to mention you can expect a 10-20% drop in max charge a year so at what point will the warranty kick in. 2. I'm wondering why it can't charge at 32F or below, granted not as familiar with LiIon batteries but the trick with NiMh, NiCd, LiPo was sticking them in the fridge before charging to get a bit more juice in em (RC days) 3. Can't operate below 14 F. Not a problem for me but many use their tractors for snow removal as a main application so becomes useless when they need it. 4. 25hp really? could easily do 35-40 with little or no more cost and bust the market since you have to step into emissions above 25 on diesel, could have themselves sittin pretty. 5. Not a fan of lithium batteries in general as they can be rather finicky and volatile ie hard work + heat + getting low on charge can lead to explosions. Really not trying to diss the idea of an electric tractor, would be fantastic if they could actually get battery technology to a level it needs to be, same goes for cars but at this time it's just not there and they're just adding to the landfill crisis with all the batteries that can't be recycled and have toxic materials

I dunno. I've had two tractor batteries last 12 and 15 years. It could depend on usage and charge-recharge sequences as well as size.
Also, the warranty is probably pro rated so by the 7th,8th and 9th years, you're not getting much back.

 

[bsekf]

The R & D for electric tractors has a long way to go. Put one on a brush hog or a rototiller and see how long that battery lasts.

 

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The R & D for electric tractors has a long way to go. Put one on a brush hog or a rototiller and see how long that battery lasts.

We sold two electric snowblowers last year.
They both were returned after even a nominal snow dump.
Th batteries in these tractors are much larger and is said to last 3-6 hrs depending on the tractor job.
I'm thinking the scenario you pitch would fall closer to the 3 hr mark but I dunno and won't until I have witnessed actual field tests.

 

[charles todd]

Salesman came buy the dealership yesterday peddling a Solectrac (spl?) tractor. The owner jumped on and rode it around for awhile. He said it was pretty smooth running, quiet and responsive. The salesman stated that this tractor would save over $12,000 in fuel costs over a similar diesel powered machine in a 10 yr period. The battery was good for that long and I asked about a battery purchase price. He didn't know the answer to that one and kept saying "it's guaranteed for 10 yrs. What tractor company do you know of that guarantees their engine for that long"?
At any rate, the tractor was good for 3-6 hrs on a charge and would charge in 8 hrs on a 220 circuit. It weighed similar to a fueled tractor of that size at 2300 lbs.
MSRP price was $28,000. Came with ags on it. Industrial and turfs were about $1500 more and a loader was about $4600.

In my opinion, It has its place for light use like on a horse farm of small garden or short driveway. If your climate gets below freezing in the winter, you have to heat up the battery with a blanket for it to take a charge. It is a lithium/iron battery that itself must be at 32*
My overall impression was that it was nice for what it was and has its place for someone.
I wouldn't buy it to save the planet as some believe electrics will but I guess its main thrust is towards convenience.
I don't think it would like pulling a 2000 lb log behind it for long or plowing out a 1000 foot driveway with 15" of snow. There is no front pto mount for it as yet..
cet-electric-tractor

They have a 70 HP model for $74,999. No loader.

CT

 

[Tim Schwaderer]

I will pass on the electric stuff. I have enough issues with dead batteries on my small cordless power tools. I’ll stick with the fossil fuel at this time

 

[Greygoose]

Never had any luck with anything rechargeable.Including power tools.Just don't seem to have the stamina of a plug into the wall or start the engine machine.

 

[oldpilot]

>climate gets below freezing in the winter, you have to heat up the battery with a blanket for it to take a charge

Good grief. I remember going home for Christmas vacation and not having the temp go above zero for a week.

I have a neighbor with a BMW plug-in electric car (with a motorcycle engine backup which he claims he's never heard activated). And another with a Prius hybrid. I've never heard either mention a problem with temp.

My Mahindra has a plug-in heater that I use if the night is supposed to drop below zero. Oil, I assume; maybe coolant. I don't suppose many Indian buyers bother with one....

 

[meackerman]

so use the tractor for ~3 hours, wait 8 hours to use it some more.
Warranty is only as good as the company behind it, company goes belly up, no more warranty.
I could see its use in some cases. but my tractor is paid for and if I run low on diesel, its a 30-minute round trip to the gas station for more.

 

[Doughknob]

…..
I don't think it would like pulling a 2000 lb log behind it for long or plowing out a 1000 foot driveway with 15" of snow. There is no front pto mount for it as yet..
cet-electric-tractor

Calculations say this tractor will run 1.2 hours if operating at full power the whole time. So, it will pull whatever any other 25 horse tractor will. Plowing and snow are no more of an issue than any other tractor that size. It’s just that if it uses all 25 hp doing it, it will only go for 1.2 hours.

Thanks for posting. Definitely a use for such machines.

 

[BobInSD]

Hmmm. No filters to change. No fuel to haul home. No oil changes. Most home owners put about 50 hrs per year on their machines. Might be a market for it.

You can't beat electric for torque, even at very low rpms. Probably not ready for prime-time, but hopefully there will be some early adopters to beta test them and get all of the kinks worked out before Mother makes us all destroy all of our IC engines.