Re: Electric Farm Tractors

An overhead trolly wire would make most sense where the fields and
equipment are large and the crop is planted many times a years.

It shouldn't cost nearly as much to electrify as a multi megawatt
train.

Adding a "small" [1/2 ton] battery or [100 kW] genset to get to the
next field isn't such a big deal on a $250,000 tractor.

On some smaller fields that use smaller tractors then it might be
easier to drop most or all of the wires. Either a lot of rechargeable
packs or a wire at the end of the field to recharge the battery after
each row. After all, they've been discussing powering EVs from the
highway for years which is infinitely more difficult.

It's even harder to see anything stopping the trolly tractor.

The equipment is specialized and expensive. Retooling low production
run John Deer isn't as big a deal as retooling GM for the Volt. The
prototype would be easy and so would the production run. Also the
state university extension system and the heavy government financial
involvement can help launch the concept. Moreover, explaining new
technology to a businessman-farmer is a little easier than explaining
a battery only EV to the general public.

Most of all, the prospect that liquid fuel will increase in cost much
faster than grid power is 100% certain.


Bret Cahill



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