Solis has come out with the Electric Tractor. It seems to be targeting the home owner with small acreage. I do not know the price, but if the price was right would you be interested?
Electric Tractor
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Ken N Tx
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Not in the least
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This is an interesting AND informative topic please keep any political references out of the responses.
You don't have to like Electric powered stuff....whether cars or OPE, but it is what it is going to be like in the not distant future...as discussed before, run time on a charge, and battery life are problems that hold electric equipment back. But, that is being worked on.....it seems to have or exceed the power of a diesel...no trouble starting, quiet....no oil changes...there is a lot to be considered in a favorable light...I would definitely have one if the battery shortcomings are worked out
You don't have to like Electric powered stuff....whether cars or OPE, but it is what it is going to be like in the not distant future...as discussed before, run time on a charge, and battery life are problems that hold electric equipment back. But, that is being worked on.....it seems to have or exceed the power of a diesel...no trouble starting, quiet....no oil changes...there is a lot to be considered in a favorable light...I would definitely have one if the battery shortcomings are worked out
I wouldn’t even consider buying one.
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Agree, well said.
I’ll pass
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The above mentioned issues, along with the replacement cost of the battery pack would hold me back.
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I think the torque characteristics of an EV would apply very well to pulling. And if it was used working indoors (like the little forklift we used inside the redwood barn at the lumber yard) electric would be more pleasant than ICE. But if my diesel tractor runs out of fuel down in the woods (which doesn't happen) I can carry a can of fuel to it. Ain't no outlets to plug in a charger in the woods...
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Maybe a flex. Automotive EV's have been around for quite awhile. They are still infants after over a hundred years.
RR has been running flex technology for a long time. But those locomotives need to be heavy.
My thoughts is if they can't get the weight within reason these small utilities will never fly.
I am only good to 11000 lbs.
RR has been running flex technology for a long time. But those locomotives need to be heavy.
My thoughts is if they can't get the weight within reason these small utilities will never fly.
I am only good to 11000 lbs.
Good point you bring up. I know that EVs are quite heavy, making them much more dangerous in accidents and that would increase car insurance I’m sure.
As unique and interesting as EV tractors are, the GA Ag Show review says pre rollout estimated price of about $32k with a 3 hour "at work" battery life. The standard charger requires 6 to 7 hours to recharge. A fast charger gets that down to 3 to 3.5 hours.
I never had the ability to schedule any workday around these kinds of equipment performance figures. A $30k equipment investment (machine only) simply has to perform 100% when and where it is needed. No idea what a fast charger costs, or any word about degradation in below freezing temps, service parts or availability of qualified mechanics.
Although a great tractor, I wouldn't pay one and a half times the cost of a JD S100 and expect it to mow my 5 acres of hilly lawn.
Sorry, this is an interesting machine for sure, but the cost and limited performance time are big obstacles.
No politics involved here.
I never had the ability to schedule any workday around these kinds of equipment performance figures. A $30k equipment investment (machine only) simply has to perform 100% when and where it is needed. No idea what a fast charger costs, or any word about degradation in below freezing temps, service parts or availability of qualified mechanics.
Although a great tractor, I wouldn't pay one and a half times the cost of a JD S100 and expect it to mow my 5 acres of hilly lawn.
Sorry, this is an interesting machine for sure, but the cost and limited performance time are big obstacles.
No politics involved here.
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Would have to be a lease deal I'm thinking. Be severe duty for a battery pack and replacement cost would probably buy a good used diesel machine.
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I have been saying for years now that the best way to make an electric vehicle would be to have a small diesel engine operating at its optimum efficiency rpm and never leaving that rpm. Let it power a generator that is keeping a power bank topped off. Need more run time? Add fuel. Run out of fuel? Use what battery capacity you have. Plus you would be able to get heat as a byproduct instead of having to use your electricity to make it in the winter. The EV's get terrible range in the winter because they have to actively make heat.
I think electric vehicles are a neat concept. It's not a new idea by any means. They had electric cars back in the early 1900's. If they made an affordable minivan or small SUV that was reasonably priced and could haul a family, I would buy one for my wife in a heartbeat. She has a 25 mile round trip to work and drop off kids each day. EV would be perfect for that. I'm with the others that have said that I would not want one until the bugs are worked out. Or, until they are cheap enough to be justify being disposable when they are done. Which is what I think we are going to. We don't rebuild motors anymore because it isn't cost effective. I can't see people paying the price to rebuild or replace battery packs on 10 year old EV's unless the price of the battery's comes way down. I think we will just get to a point where the vehicle itself is just so "cheap" that you will buy new and then dispose of it (recycle) when you are done with it. Like a pair of shoes.
As to the tractor that is the topic of this discussion, would I be interested in it? Nope. I have 70 acres of woods to maintain plus 700 acres of farm to be worked with the family. That is a lawnmower not a tractor. To a guy with 5 or less acres though, that would be the cat's meow.
I think electric vehicles are a neat concept. It's not a new idea by any means. They had electric cars back in the early 1900's. If they made an affordable minivan or small SUV that was reasonably priced and could haul a family, I would buy one for my wife in a heartbeat. She has a 25 mile round trip to work and drop off kids each day. EV would be perfect for that. I'm with the others that have said that I would not want one until the bugs are worked out. Or, until they are cheap enough to be justify being disposable when they are done. Which is what I think we are going to. We don't rebuild motors anymore because it isn't cost effective. I can't see people paying the price to rebuild or replace battery packs on 10 year old EV's unless the price of the battery's comes way down. I think we will just get to a point where the vehicle itself is just so "cheap" that you will buy new and then dispose of it (recycle) when you are done with it. Like a pair of shoes.
As to the tractor that is the topic of this discussion, would I be interested in it? Nope. I have 70 acres of woods to maintain plus 700 acres of farm to be worked with the family. That is a lawnmower not a tractor. To a guy with 5 or less acres though, that would be the cat's meow.
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NO! I would not consider it.
I won't even consider a new EPA Tier IV diesel. I searched a long time to find a mint Pre EPA loader tractor with 398 hours on it. Just look at all the threads on here with people having all the issues, codes and regen problems.
I won't even consider a new EPA Tier IV diesel. I searched a long time to find a mint Pre EPA loader tractor with 398 hours on it. Just look at all the threads on here with people having all the issues, codes and regen problems.
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Then half as much again in a few years time when the batteries go bad. They, industry, has a long way to go before I'd consider anything in any kind of electric vehicle.
I'm lucky if I put 40-50 hours a year on my Iseki 3160, I've had it 5± years I think, so if it were electric, I'd probably be looking at batteries. Other than fuel or oil and a regular battery, it hasn't cost me a cent, if it were electric I'd be looking at..$3-$5000 if I'm lucky.
I understand your reasoning but then you have two power sources to maintain, batteries, electric motor and generator plus control electronics and a diesel engine so I don't see the advantage.
I don't have anywhere near that amount of land...thankfully LOL. I use my tractor for moving a yard trailer around in the summer doing maintenance, leaves, driveway, a chipper on rare occasions etc...not many hours, so in that instance an electric would work. In the winter time, I plow mine and my neighbours driveway so 3-4 hours at a time...in the cold. No way would an electric cut it.
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Diesel locomotives are powered this way and have been for half a century. Really very simple in theory, but in practice regulations and the desire to implement electrical systems into everything make it more complicated than it needs to be.
Yes. I think making heat is the downfall. A diesel fired heater might be a good solution, but again. Two systems and still burning fuel.
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I thought that was because of the high initial torque requirement to get thousands of tons moving, I could be wrong tho...usually am LOL
Good luck...that's a losing battle if there ever was one.
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