Would you buy an electric tractor?

[Gale Hawkins]

Who uses a tractor inside a warehouse?

WAREHOUSE TRACTORS - 12654_121

 

[Grumpycat]

This brings to mind more questions than I have answers. So if I'm driving along and mowing a seasonal trail in the woods with my rotary cutter, and then come across a fallen tree I'd like to nudge out of the way with my FEL, how many electric motors would it take to power all those functions at once? Are there separate drive motors for the wheels, PTO, and hydraulics? Or would there be a single large motor with transmissions, gearing, shafts and associated losses? and maybe a smaller dedicated hydraulic motor? If you have transmissions, where would the batteries go? And will there be a hybrid model that can provide supplemental power for the electric drives?

Why should anything be any different? Electric motor drive hydraulic pump exactly same as diesel. Hydraulic cylinders are a very mature technology.

However things like cutters could benefit from having their own dedicated electric motors. Electric cables and motors are more efficient than hydraulic hoses or the hassle of PTO. But expect many will have PTO also simply to be compatible with existing equipment. But the PTO may very well have its own dedicated motor.

My EGo 21" self-propelled lawn mower has a dedicated motor and speed controller for the self-propelled.

 

[4570Man]

That’s sounds a lot more like an airport tug vs a tractor. In any case how many of them are in warehouse service? And I’m betting the airport guys would rather just dump in some more diesel vs having to buy a whole pile of batteries to keep their dozens of tugs in almost continuous operation.

 

[Grumpycat]

If I知 not mistaken theyæ±*e just trying to stick an electric motor in place of the gasoline engine. To have any chance of working good it needs a complete re design with electric drive motors, only using the loader pump when necessary and electric PTOs.

Nothing wrong with that. If an electric motor gets the job done then great!

Axiom we always had to beat into young engineers, "Perfection is the enemy of Good Enough. Do not let the pursuit of perfection prevent you from completing the task."

Maybe electrifying the FEL, PTO, mower deck, etc, is "optimizing". But simply replacing the gasoline engine is a good step toward learning what is needed.

 

[Grumpycat]

What if you just put a pto driven generator on the electric tractor and run forever for nothing?

Perpetual motion machines do not exist.

 

[Grumpycat]

A tractor would need batteries that could last long enough for the job at hand with the power needed - that is a somewhat tall order. One thing in favor for electric tractors is the need for the batteries to be lightweight is not so critical. Often, it would be just the opposite - the added weight would be a good thing.

Long ago I thought one of the best applications for EV would be the full time RV market. For those who live in the RV who rarely move far from one campground to another. Lots of cheap heavy lead-acid batteries for 100 mile range to a campsite with 50A hookups. Big batteries would double as a replacement for loud gensets for dry camping. Very low maintenance for a vehicle which might be parked unused for 6 months. No gasoline or diesel to go bad.

 

[Grumpycat]

A Tesla powered by pure coal electricity is as clean as a 30 MPG gasoline vehicle but has the advantage of running off natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, geothermal, solar, oil, coal, whathaveyou. No massive (questionable) undertaking to grow corn for ethanol to dilute a mere 10% of gasoline.

Ignorant cartoonist pictures black smoke coming out of a nuclear cooling tower. Cooling towers are generally made of wood. Hot water is pumped to the top and allowed to run down. An updraft is formed and nothing but water vapor comes out the top. Is exactly a very large chiller for industrial and office HVAC.

 

[RSR]

This is what I think is the biggest indicator for whether a viable electric tractor can be brought to market as a reasonable/attractive alternative to diesel.

Total tractor sales in 2019 (USA): ~250,000
Total passenger vehicle sales in 2019 (USA): ~17,000,000

So, ~70 times as many vehicles sold.

Unfortunately, I think the tractor market is just too small to warrant the development costs needed to put a reliable, electric tractor into production at a reasonable cost.

As much as I think it is a good idea, I think the economics of the situation dictate that they will only become a financially sustainable and reasonable alternative when they can capitalize on the technology/supply chains/etc. developed from cars.

It can easily be argued that cars aren't even an economical alternative yet. Consequently, I think electric tractors are still years (decades) away from gaining any traction (pun intended) in the market.

 

[Jstpssng]

Nothing wrong with that. If an electric motor gets the job done then great!

Axiom we always had to beat into young engineers, "Perfection is the enemy of Good Enough. Do not let the pursuit of perfection prevent you from completing the task."

Maybe electrifying the FEL, PTO, mower deck, etc, is "optimizing". But simply replacing the gasoline engine is a good step toward learning what is needed.

Perpetual motion machines do not exist.

It seems like you're contradicting yourself here.

That's OK, I often bring up that same machine.
Humans tend to embrace what we have, and are afraid of trying new things.

A Tesla powered by pure coal electricity is as clean as a 30 MPG gasoline vehicle but has the advantage of running off natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, geothermal, solar, oil, coal, whathaveyou. No massive (questionable) undertaking to grow corn for ethanol to dilute a mere 10% of gasoline.

Ignorant cartoonist pictures black smoke coming out of a nuclear cooling tower. Cooling towers are generally made of wood. Hot water is pumped to the top and allowed to run down. An updraft is formed and nothing but water vapor comes out the top. Is exactly a very large chiller for industrial and office HVAC.

You left out that ethanol also tends to reduce mileage by that same 10%. It's like a bartender adding water to his bottles before opening in the evening, then selling shots as full drinks.

 

[Mat4644]

Just a cartoon pointing out electric cars are not zero emissions. No need to micro analyze.

Most reliable testing shows 3% to 4% MPG reduction using 10% ethanol gasoline mix.