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Wiki article: Electric tractors now- Electric tractors and Climate Change

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Electric tractors have the potential to revolutionize  agriculture. Electric tractors can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions because they minimize the reliance on fossil fuels. Consequentially they can be a part of  sustainable agriculture practices. 1

The electric tractor is  powered by electric power and is designed in such a way  to perform the tasks needed in  farming with the primary advantage of using electric power as its energy source. Because of the issues associated with climate change, the use of electric energy as compared to using the Internal Combustion Engine(ICE) is an advantage. Electric tractors are not a source of greenhouse gases so have an environmentally friendly operation. Additionally, as compared to internal combustion engines, there is less noise pollution, and lower operating costs.

This article provides an overview of the advantages of the electric as it relates to climate change.

Advantages

The advantaged of electric tractors are multi-tiered over conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) tractors. They can revolutionize farming in  a way beneficial to climate change. Included in these advantages are:

Sustainability : As compared with diesel motors, which have hundreds of moving parts,  electric tractors are to make in dent in greenhouse gas emissions and thus air pollution because they  produce no tailpipe emissions.

Energy Efficiency: The aforementioned lower operating costs can be attributed to the greater energy efficiency of electric tractors over ICE tractors. This is because the electric drivetrain experiences fewer energy losses, ensuring a higher percentage of the energy stored in the battery is used for performing work. Furthermore, FCEVs ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell_vehicle ) generally will have two to three times the fuel economy (in miles per kilojoule of travel) of comparable gasoline ICEVs, because electric drivetrains are extremely efficient (over 80% on a work-out/energy-in basis), and fuel cells themselves are up to 50% efficient.3 So because electric tractors have fewer moving parts than their ICE counterparts, this leads  to lower maintenance costs. The absence of an internal combustion engine eliminates the need for oil changes, engine tune-ups, and other engine-related maintenance. Additionally, the cost of electricity per unit of energy is often lower than diesel or gasoline, further reducing operating expenses.

Included in the mechanical advantages of electric tractors are its regenerative braking and torque, which is instant torque. Its breaking is regenerative because of the ability to recapture energy during braking and then store it. This accounts for greater energy efficiency. Its instant torque feature renders greater movability for common agricultural tasks.

Integration with Renewable Energy Sources4: Electric tractors don’t have to be reliable on fossil fuels: they can be charged using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or hydropower. Farmers can even install on-site renewable energy systems to power their tractors, providing a sustainable and self-sufficient energy solution.

These advantages make electric tractors an increasingly popular choice for farmers looking to optimize their operations while minimizing environmental impact and reducing operating costs. As technology continues to advance and the adoption of electric tractors grows, the agriculture industry can expect to see even more benefits from this clean and efficient alternative to traditional ICE tractors.

Manufacturers
Electric tractors are manufactured by a German company, Fendt, and by US companies, Solectrac and Monarch Tractor.

In October 2022, The US-American company Ideanomics, which specializes in electric utility vehicles, has commissioned what it claims is the largest assembly plant for electric tractors in North America. The plant in Windsor, California, has the capacity to produce 4,100 electric tractors annually. The vehicles built in Windsor are from Solectrac, a manufacturer acquired by Ideanomics.

John Deere's prototype electric tractor is a plug-in, powered by an electrical cable.

Kubota is prototyping an autonomous electric tractor.

Farmtrac [8]

Rigitrac[9]

1.Brackney, Susan(2021-09-02). "Electric Tractors Are The Future of Farming" ( https://www.hobbyfarms.com/electric-tractors-are-the-future-of-farming/). Hobby Farms. Retrieved 2022-07-23

2.

3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/electric-drivetrains#:~:text=FCEVs%20generally%20will%20have%20two,are%20up%20to%2050%25%20efficient.

4.

5. Soletrac

6. John Deere

7. Kubota

8. Farmtrac

9. Rigitrac

1. Link to Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture:

Agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and its associated impacts. Electric tractors offer a solution to reduce emissions within the sector, as they generate zero tailpipe emissions compared to traditional internal combustion engine tractors. By adopting electric tractors, farmers can take a proactive step towards minimizing their carbon footprint and help mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. For a comprehensive understanding of greenhouse gas emissions within the agricultural sector, visit the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture page.

4. Link to Climate Smart  Agriculture

Electric tractors play a vital role in climate-smart agriculture, a holistic approach that aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase resilience to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By utilizing electric tractors, farmers can significantly decrease their reliance on fossil fuels, lower emissions, and minimize their environmental impact. As a key component of sustainable farming practices, electric tractors contribute to the broader goal of climate-smart agriculture by promoting energy efficiency, noise reduction, and integration with renewable energy sources. Learn more about climate-smart agriculture here.