Friday, 23 August 2019 12:21

Battery-powered tractors still a way off

Written by  Mark Daniel
A look inside the cab of a new Fendt 700 Series. A look inside the cab of a new Fendt 700 Series.

The likelihood of electric or hybrid powered farm tractors still appears a long way off.

The German news site Top Agrar says research by Fendt indicates that the energy density of currently available batteries would not suit high horsepower prime movers.

Fendt director of research, development and purchasing, Heribert Reiter, says tractors up to 68hp (50kW) can typically use batteries to run for one to four hours depending on the task.

Calculations show that a 250hp (180kW) tractor running for 10-12 hours a day at about 50% capacity would need a massive battery. 

A capacity of 800kWh would be required, taking up about 2 cu.m of space and weighing about 6 tonnes. And a 395hp (290kW) unit would need a battery of at least 1700 kWh requiring 4 cu.m and could weigh up to 12 tonnes.

Fendt also reports its new 700 series -- its most popular range -- will probably appear at Agritechnica in November.

It will include a new multi-function joystick with added functions such as a revamped cross-gate lever with forward/reverse shuttle control, and extensive colour coding to ease operator use.

The tractors will also have three display options with a central computer. A 9-inch steering column mounted, tablet style display will offer machine features and road travel information. A 12-inch terminal is mounted to the right-hand armrest, while an optional 12-inch display is located just below the roof lining on the right-hand side of the cabin. 

The tractors will eventually have the FendtOne system that will connect on-board information with, say, farm offices or mobile devices, all with consistent appearance and layout.

More like this

Fendt 600 Vario Series arrives in NZ

Released in New Zealand earlier in the year, the new Fendt 600 Vario series, serving the 150-200hp category, is a compact and manoeuvrable 4-cylinder tractor with high performance and payload, at a low power-to-weight ratio.

100,000th Fendt 700

Following a quarter century of production, the 100,000th Fendt 700 Vario was recently driven off the production line in Marktoberdorf, Germany.

Tractor sales take a dip

As a sign of the times, a sharp downturn in the global demand for tractors and machinery has seen some of the global players announcing lacklustre half yearly results.

Fendt extends Vario range

Fendt has extended its VarioDrive concept further down the power range with a totally new Vario 600, four-cylinder range.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter