The Battery-Powered Compact Tractor

Celebrating the Environment Day means the seriousness towards the reducing pollution. The tractors are meant for running in the field but while transporting the material viz. sugarcane or other material, the tractor also runs in the city.  Towns and districts are looking for new ways to reduce exhaust emissions. Councils are putting on the pressure to build more charging stations and switch inner-city fleets to electric buses and trucks.

So, now Battery powered compact tractor is the need of the hour. The concept is not new as in  September 2017, AGCO/Fendt introduced the Fendt e100 Vario, the first practical battery-powered tractor that, under normal workloads, can be used for a full working day without recharging. The relentless demand for this e-tractor from many towns and districts shows the enormous interest in alternative types of drive.

Against the background of designing emission-free, quiet machines, AGCO/Fendt has launched the Fendt e100 Vario, a practical, all-electric compact tractor with 50 kW power output, which can operate for up to 5 hours under actual operating conditions. The energy source is a 650 V high-capacity lithium-ion battery with a capacity of around 100 kWh.

The battery is charged either with 400 V and up to 22 kW via a standard CEE socket, or by a supercharging option with direct voltage. With a standard CCS type 2 plug, the battery can be recharged up to 80% in just 40 minutes. In addition, energy can be recovered thanks to the use of an electric motor.

The Fendt e100 Vario allows the use of conventional as well as electrified implements. The electric tractor is fitted with two AEF-compliant power interfaces for electrical equipment. A short-term boost of up to 150 kW for the implements can be provided by the battery.

A standard PTO connection is also available, as well as the normal hydraulic supply to implements. Therefore, the Fendt e100 Vario can be used with existing equipment with no additional caveats, but is also equipped to reap the benefits of using electrical implements.

The maximum torque for the ground drive and PTO drive is supplied from a standing start. Safety is guaranteed by an insulated design and continuous, electronic system monitoring.

The efficiency of the battery-powered tractor is increased by a completely new, energy-efficient type of thermal management. A regulated, electrical heat pump performs the task of air conditioning the cab as well as the battery and electronics.

Energy management, including the tractor’s battery information, can be monitored via smartphone. In addition, comfort functions, such as pre-heating in winter or air conditioning in summer, can be easily controlled in advance when connected to the mains supply.

The Fendt e100 Vario is low-maintenance, energy-efficient, quiet and emissions-free. The power needed to operate the tractor can be supplied by renewable energies, such as biogas, solar power, or wind power, therefore making a significant contribution to combating climate change. At the same time, the high-capacity battery can store excess power and feed it back into the grid.