Government Will Soon Launch an Electric Tractor: Nitin Gadkari

Tractors are the next vehicle to go all-electric, after automobiles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and micro trucks. Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, has announced that a battery-electric tractor will be launched in the coming days, lowering the overall cost of farm output.

The minister declined to name the business that will debut the electric tractor, adding that launch dates and legalities are still being finalized. While electric tractors will require a lot of power to do traditional tasks like ploughing and tilling, Gadkari said that they may transport farm produce from the fields to the market.

"If a farmer has to deliver 300 kg of veggies to the market, he will have to pay $200." "I will be launching an electric tractor in the market in the next few days," Gadkari stated at the HDFC Ergo General Insurance EV Summit last week.

With the cost of diesel that has crossed Rs 100 per litre in many parts of the country, the cost of farm produce has risen significantly over several months. The electric tractors, with their extremely economical costs, are pegged to become the most suited replacement to the traditional diesel-driven tractors.

Sonalika Tractor Only Company To Launch Electric Tractor in India So far

The Punjab-based Sonalika Tractors is the only tractor company in India, that has commercially launched an electric tractor in the market, called Tiger Electric, Sonalika introduced it in December 2020, at an introductory price of Rs 5.99 lakh. Powered by 11kW motor & having a lift capacity of 500kg, the Tiger Electric is used for a variety of applications including spraying, grass cutting rotavator, & for hauling trolley.

In January, Escorts had declared that the company received a certificate from Central Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institute, Budni for its electric tractor, which complies with CMVR (Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989). Escorts however is yet to commercially launch products in the market.

Two of India’s biggest tractor makers Mahindra & Mahindra and Tafe who together controls nearly 60% of India’s domestic tractor market, are yet to announce their plan for the electric tractors. M&M however is working on launching the electric tractors under its own brand & under the Swaraj brand by FY26.

India’s tractor market has grown by 16% to 8.59 lakh during January to November period as against 7.41 lakh clocked in the same period last year, according to data shared by Tractor & Mechanization Association. The industry is set to close 021 as its best year in History.