Fendt teases electric tractor
Fendt claims its e100 Vario will the first practical battery-powered tractor to hit the global marketAmid the sea of tractor concepts for an electric and sustainable farming future, none have made it past the drawing board and into the production line. Until now.
According to Fendt, its e100 Vario will be the first commercially available, fully electric tractor that will be in use from 2018 in limited capacity and numbers.
The 67hp tractor can operate for up to five hours under normal operating conditions, Fendt claims. The energy source is a 650V high-capacity lithium-ion battery with a capacity of around 100kW/h.
The battery is charged either with 400V and up to 22kW via a standard CEE outdoor socket, or by a supercharging option with direct voltage. With a standard CCS type 2 plug, the battery can be recharged up to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes.
The rear of the tractor is no different from conventional tractors, offering hydraulic valves as well as PTO connection to run implements. Except the e100 Vario is also fitted with two AEF-compliant power interfaces to power up electrical implements. A short-term boost of up to 150kW for the implements can be provided by the battery.
To ensure peak performance, Fendt has deployed a new, energy-efficient thermal management system on the e100 Vario. 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 controlled in advance when connected to the mains supply.
As no fuel is required to run the tractor, the e100 Vario is virtually emissions free. The elimination of oil, AdBlue and diesel means maintenance for the tractor is significantly simplified, allowing producers to get more out of their day.
Fendt adds the tractor is also very quiet during operations which makes it ideal for work in stables or in urban environments for local council work.
The e100 Vario has won Fendt a coveted silver medal in innovation at the 2017 Agritechnica agricultural machinery trade show, to be held in Hanover, Germany in November this year.
The exhibition is the world’s largest trade show for farm machinery, and currently runs biennially.
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