First electric tractor ride

[Sportsman762]

Arrow, thank you for the honest review. It is the first one I have read on TBN of a person who actually drove an electric tractor. I believe that there is a place for them, as you have stated. Also the industry numbers I have seen are around 26 hours per year are average for a compact tractor. The folks here are most likely a representative of the "power users" and have much higher hours per year on average as shown in this thread.

How many hours do you have on your tractor

Recently I was in the market for a used tractor, I was looking at 1 tractor after another that had a few thousand hrs. on it and major engine work done. That was an exclusive selling point for these sellers, the fact that major engine work had recently been done. I assumed that a tractor's...

www.tractorbynet.com

I also found your comment about the Solectrac not charging below 32 degrees surprising. I had not heard of that before. It seems like that would kill a lot of market potential. I wonder if it has a really strong low end pulling power. Electric motors are great at maintaining power over a wider band of RPM's than an internal combustion.

I do not see myself in a position were an electric tractor will make sense for me unless the technology advances quite far. However I know many folks who own compact tractors and have never run them more than 30 minutes in one sitting. However the choice of electric vs internal combustion engine has been politicized too much. Ex: if you drive a Prius your a yuppy, etc. It should be a choice on needs, without a political aspect. With that being said I am afraid there is no way this thread is not going to turn negative with folks bashing electric. Not out of careful consideration of their needs but a more vitriol response. It is also my belief it should be a personal choice of internal vs electric without the Government forcing it down anyone's throat.

 

[claggstractors]

Was wondering where they were actually made and it wasn't mentioned in the About Us section. Looked through the News section and the angle of the photo showed the FarmTrac logo. Good luck selling them where ever there was FarmTrac dealers that got left high and dry. Pretty screwed up what happened to those dealers and customers.

 

[ruffdog]

I could see it in warmer climates but not in Wyoming.

The thing that irks me is the plug in is on top of the hood area. Couldn't put the plug in on the side?

But just think....no more wondering if the diesel tractor will start or waiting for it to warm up. Agree on the plug at the top of the hood. Duh

 

[claggstractors]

Yeah, instead it's ten degrees out and will void the warranty to even use it. 14F Minimum operating temp lol

 

[Thomas]

Just matter of time.

 

[arrow]

I seriously doubt I've spent that much in fuel on a 35 HP tractor in 21 years 2440 hours

Well, like every statistic, this could be bent toward a sales proposition. A gallon of diesel used to cost 2.69 not long ago in my neck of the woods. If they extrapolate diesel costing twice that or more and then add the service charges for oil, filters, hydraulic fluid plus the materials themselves as opposed to a do it your selfer, then proportionately I suppose they can get to those numbers.

It depends where they tag vehicle maintenance and running costs from.
Could be they used product and servicing costs from say San Luis Obispo as opposed to say a Paris Kentucky.
Last Oct when in Calif, gas was already over 5 bucks. I think some places got to $8 or more.

 

[arrow]

Yeah, instead it's ten degrees out and will void the warranty to even use it. 14F Minimum operating temp lol

Not good for that type of climate.

 

[arrow]

Just matter of time.

true dat I'm afraid. Calif has already banned gasoline outdoor power equipment after 2024.

 

[claggstractors]

Not good for that type of climate.

Then why would they have a dealer in Maine?

 

[airbiscuit]

This is version 1.0. I could see them being used in vineyards, small estates, schools, hospitals, commercial grounds maintenance,etc.

 

[arrow]

Then why would they have a dealer in Maine?

I would assume that all of Maine does not have that kind of climate.

 

[ArlyA]

true dat I'm afraid. Calif has already banned gasoline outdoor power equipment after 2024.

Its 2035 not 2024.

 

[Paystar]

true dat I'm afraid. Calif has already banned gasoline outdoor power equipment after 2024.

That's why I eat a lot of fried food. Can make bio diesel with the french fry oil, LOL

They tried an electric crew buggy at the mine. They were thinking of buying them to replace the Toyota's.
When they first got it, they raved about it and how good it was. Until it went through a winter.

Then I asked their opinion again. It was great underground.....until it came to surface in the minus 40.
But while the warmer underground temp was good for the batteries....the wet and dampness caused non stop electronics issues.
So they sent it back and bought more diesel Toyota's and Kubota's.

 

[Paystar]

As some have said though, I do see a market for a tractor like that. All the greenies with an acre of lawn to mow or a average size drive to plow would probably make due with it.

 

[Raul-02]

Made in India is what the rep stated.

Hmmm. I know how those batteries need to be manufactured. Very thin materials separated by a super thin polymer barrier wrapped very tightly. One speck of dust and the polymer layer will fail leading possibly to fire. Made in India wouldn't give me much confidence.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Why stop with the made in India tractor? Get a Reva & India tools also!

 

[5030]

Looks like a toaster, runs like a toaster...By gosh, it is a toaster

 

[California]

Could be they used product and servicing costs from say San Luis Obispo as opposed to say a Paris Kentucky.
Last Oct when in Calif, gas was already over 5 bucks. I think some places got to $8 or more.

NorCal extreme! Diesel $8/gallon, photo last week. No wonder the oil companies are booking best-in-history profits.

Source of photo.

But the comments note more typical prices in the region start around $4.60 for Regular.

 

[SF82]

I have a few issues here. 1. No battery is lasting 10 years. If they're warrantying it they're gonna be coming out of pocket alot, not to mention you can expect a 10-20% drop in max charge a year so at what point will the warranty kick in. 2. I'm wondering why it can't charge at 32F or below, granted not as familiar with LiIon batteries but the trick with NiMh, NiCd, LiPo was sticking them in the fridge before charging to get a bit more juice in em (RC days) 3. Can't operate below 14 F. Not a problem for me but many use their tractors for snow removal as a main application so becomes useless when they need it. 4. 25hp really? could easily do 35-40 with little or no more cost and bust the market since you have to step into emissions above 25 on diesel, could have themselves sittin pretty. 5. Not a fan of lithium batteries in general as they can be rather finicky and volatile ie hard work + heat + getting low on charge can lead to explosions. Really not trying to diss the idea of an electric tractor, would be fantastic if they could actually get battery technology to a level it needs to be, same goes for cars but at this time it's just not there and they're just adding to the landfill crisis with all the batteries that can't be recycled and have toxic materials

 

[arrow]

Its 2035 not 2024.

a-look-at-californias-ban-on-gas-powered-equipment
California has banned the sale of gas powered outdoor equipment by 2024.
This is based on their premise that one hr of operation of say a string trimmer, puts out as much pollution as a 2016 Prius going 1100 miles.

What they neglect to inform however is that California has the largest port area in the country.
One cargo ship in a years time, emits the equivalent pollution of 50 million cars. There are about 30 million registered vehicles there. There are 90,000 cargo ships.
They are not banning cargo ships coming into their port and C.A.R.B (California Air resources Board) who's standards seem to just about run the country, turns the other cheek for these.

Consequently, planes, trains and ships and now srting trimmers, emit the most pollution.
As someone said: "follow the money"