Experts talk ag equipment electrification at Agritechnica

Mark Schwager (Photo: Monarch Tractor)

Agritechnica, which will take place Nov. 12-18 in Hanover, Germany, will host top speakers from international agricultural technology and agriculture opportunities on its Expert Stages. One such presentation, sponsored by Diesel Progress International, will be a roundtable Q&A discussion on the topic “Electrifying Agricultural Machines: The Quiet Revolution”, held Tuesday, November 14 at 11.00 CET, in Hall 17, Stand H02.

This educational Q&A session will bring together representatives from leading agricultural equipment and component suppliers to discuss the advantages of electrification in agricultural machinery, including zero emissions and low to zero noise levels, as well as the technologies available to transition tractors and other machines away from fossil fuel-based power systems.

Bas Verkaik, ELEO Technologies co-founder & CEO

The roundtable will include Mark Schwager, president and co-founder of Monarch Tractor, a startup that developed the MK-V, which the company describes as “the world’s first 100% electric, driver optional, connected tractor.” Monarch Tractor is offering its “smart” tractors for direct sale plus licenses the technology to other tractor manufacturers, including one of the ag industry’s largest OEMs.

Schwager has over 15 years of experience leading manufacturing organizations and has developed over 16 million sq. ft. of manufacturing space. He previously served as head of the Tesla Gigafactory, leading the project from concept phase to construction. He also led the operations planning team and built the business systems for Tesla’s Fremont factory and led the manufacturing program for Tesla’s collaboration with Toyota for the Rav4 EV. 

David Stockbauer-Muhr, head of Electric Systems Development Off-Highway, ZF

Joining Schwager will be Bas Verkaik, co-founder and CEO at ELEO Technologies, a battery technology manufacturer based in the Netherlands. Since its founding in 2017, ELEO has been committed to the mission of making high-quality battery systems accessible to a wide variety of industrial applications, Verkaik noted. Based on this vision, the company develops and produces advanced modular battery packs featuring a proprietary battery management system (BMS) and innovative thermal management, bringing benefits in terms of safety, reliability, and durability.

Verkaik has a MSc degree in Sustainable Energy Technology at Eindhoven University of Technology. Shortly after earning his degree, he founded SPIKE Technologies, developing high-quality components for electric vehicles. The company was later renamed ELEO Technologies and its focus shifted to broader battery system applications. In 2022, Yanmar acquired a majority stake in the company.

Also appearing will be David Stockbauer-Muhr, head of Electric Systems Development Off-Highway, ZF. Stockbauer-Muhr has been with ZF for 12 years, where he has held several positions in Development, Project and Product management.

Kari Aaltonen, director of Engineering, AGCO Power

Finally, Kari Aaltonen, director of Engineering, AGCO Power, will join the other panelists on the Expert Stage. Aaltonen has been with AGCO Power for more than 26 years, overseeing global engine and power unit design operations for agricultural machinery produced by such brands as Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Valtra and Gleaner.

The roundtable Q&A discussion will take place on the Expert Stage: Systems & Components, which will cover the latest developments on the topics of “Environment and Safety”, “Innovative Powertrain technologies”, “Networking and Automation” and “Digital Services”. Find the full list of scheduled presentations to be hosted on this stage here. 

Agritechnica is an international showcase for the global agricultural machinery industry and the forum for future crop production issues. To learn more, visit www.agritechnica.com.