Manufacturers are building to a future where alternative fuel vehicles run alongside diesel. Electric vehicles may seem like a front-runner at the moment, but they aren’t likely to replace your whole fleet anytime soon — if ever. Electric-powered, high-horsepower tractors are still a long way off due to battery density, says Jon Gilbeck, global manager for construction equipment product management and electrification lead for John Deere.
“To give an example, consider our 8R tractor running at about 75% load over 14 hours. In order to do that with full battery electric, you’d have to have a tractor two times the size, two times the weight, and four times the cost of what it is today,” says Gilbeck.
While it might not be possible to run a 300 hp tractor off battery power yet, major manufacturers are getting their feet in the door on the technology.
Questions About Battery
Most customers in agriculture and construction are asking three questions when it comes to electric vehicles: How long is the battery going to last, how long is it going to take to charge, and how expensive would it be to replace the battery, says Zimin Vilar, construction and forestry battery electric platform manager for John Deere.
Denne historien er fra Mid-November 2023-utgaven av Successful Farming.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra Mid-November 2023-utgaven av Successful Farming.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
KRISTOPHER KLOKKENGA
The Illinois native farmed in Ghana and lived in Denmark before coming home to take over his family's operation.
DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN WHEN USING A SKID STEER
These mini workhorses are fun to operate and make chores go quickly. But injuries can occur if safety isn’t top of mind.
MEET NCBA PRESIDENT MARK EISELE
This Wyoming rancher brings a lifetime of cattle experience.
TOP SHOPS
THREE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO TURN A SHOP INTO YOUR FARM'S HEADQUARTERS.
GRAZING MANAGEMENT TRANSFORMS GRASSLANDS
Developing the land's natural resources benefits the ranch operator and the wildlife.
KNOW YOUR NOZZLE
Small factors can help optimize herbicide applications.
MOUNTAINS OF MACHINERY
COMMODITY PRICES ARE LOW AND INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH. BUT AN OVERSUPPLY OF USED EQUIPMENT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES.
DAIRY BARN FLOORING
It starts at the ground level.
SHOP HACKS
Great storage improvisations using PVC pipe.
HOW TO KILL A FARM
Problem: Out-of-state, non-farming heirs want their farming brother to do all the work but share decisions and profit.
