Electrification on the Farm

With electrification gaining attention from vehicle  manufacturers attention in just about every market segment, it should be no surprise that the biennial Agritechnica farm machinery show in Hannover, Germany, should produce its share of electric vehicle news.

German feed mixer specialist Siloking (above) has expanded its line of electric trucks. At Agritechnica, the company displayed its new TruckLine e.0 eTruck 1408 that has a hopper capacity of 14 m³ (62.5 sq.ft.) and has two mixing augers.

Along with a 10 m³ (50 sq.ft.) and one mixing auger, the two machines join a model introduced in 2016 that has an 8 m³ (43 sq.ft.) capacity. The company said it has already sold more than 25 machines.

 The electric drive for mixing and moving, which is the same for all three models, is powered by an 80 v dc lead acid battery. One battery charge is sufficient for up to five mixes per day, said the company. The infinitely variable control drive system achieves a driving speed of up to 20 km/h (12.4 mph). All three machines are designed for farms with narrow barns and low buildings.

The company said farmers can use the energy from solar panels, biogas installations and wind energy to charge the eTruck, alternatives that have become increasingly common on farms in Germany.

 “The high demand for the eTruck has encouraged us to continue our intensive development work of many years in this future market. With the new choice of models we can offer the farmers individual solutions adapted to the specific on-farm requirements,” said Georg Mayer, owner and managing director, Siloking Mayer Maschinenbau GmbH, Tittmoning, Germany.

Farmtrac Tractors Europe introduced the first all-electric tractor produced by parent company Escorts Ltd. on its stand at the Agritechnica.

Based on the diesel-engined compact Farmtrac 26E tractor, the company said its electric machine is the first to be developed and built in India.  

The electric tractor shares the company’s all-new styling as part of NETS (New Escorts Tractor Series). It currently has an estimated six hours of run time and can be recharged with a conventional household outlet. It uses a 19 kW induction motor with power from lithium-ion batteries housed in the former engine compartment. The system was developed inhouse by Escorts’s engineering team.

While currently still in the development stage, the company expects to first launch the tractor in the United States and Europe as early as 2019.

“Farmtrac is extremely proud to launch the electric tractor concept,” said Nikhil Nanda, managing director, Escorts Ltd. “It’s a display of our innovative approach to engineering, offering India’s best to the world. New mechanised farming products and solutions are essential for meeting the global demand for greater food production.”