Fendt’s electric tractor surfaces

German farm equipment expert, Fendt, has lifted the covers off its first electric tractor offering – the e100 V Vario, which has been designed for specialist applications such as orchards or vineyards.

The Fendt e107 V Vario made its global debut at the 2023 Agritechnica trade show, some six years after the first prototype of Fendt’s battery powered tractor was unveiled at the same event.

In place of a conventional diesel engine, the Fendt e107 V Vario is powered by a battery with an electric motor and the Fendt Vario transmission with an output of 75hp. A maximum output of 90hp is possible via the Dynamic+ operating mode.

As it produces zero harmful emissions, Fendt says the e107 V Vario is also ideal for use in enclosed spaces such as greenhouses.

Breaking down the name of the Fendt e107 V Vario, the ‘e’ stands for electric while the number 107 signifies its output of 75 hp. The ‘V’ stands for ‘vineyard’ which means the tractor is a narrow-gauge version.

With its battery capacity of 100kWh, the Fendt e107 V Vario is capable of an operating time of about four to seven hours in simpler applications such as leaf cutting, mulching or sweeping. In more energy-intensive operations such as towing a trailer, the operating time is reduced.

The Fendt e107 V Vario model has an external width of 1.07m and a height of approximately 2.45m. Its compact dimensions, combined with its exhaust-free operation makes it suitable for use in enclosed spaces, as aforementioned, as well as in urban areas such as for lawn maintenance purposes.  

The battery powered tractor also operates much more quietly than conventional tractors, Fendt says, allowing its use to be extended well into the evening in noise sensitive areas such as residential areas or parks.  

As DC fast-charging infrastructure is not yet widely available especially on farms, Fendt has equipped the e107 V Vario with a CCS2 socket for charging purposes. A Type-2 plug enables charging via alternating current up to 22kW, which can be found at commercially available wall boxes or public charging stations.

The Fendt e107 V Vario can be charged using the widely used 32A industrial socket in combination with a 22kW mobile charger. This way, the battery can be fully charged within five hours, Fendt says.

DC fast charging with a charging power of up to 80kW is possible via a CCS plug. The battery charges from 20 to 80 percent within about 45 minutes.

Fendt and AGCO Power are currently working on a range extender prototype that could increase operating time of the e-tractor.

Compared to a combustion engine, the electric motor is more energy efficient as there is less energy wastage due to heat, for example.

To further improve energy efficiency, the Fendt e107 V Vario has numerous functions and technologies such as a Start/Stop function and three operating modes – Eco, Dynamic and Dynamic+ – to ensure only the required amount of energy is generated, helping to prolong the operating hours of the tractor.

The Eco driving mode is suitable for operations with a low power requirement such as mowing, while Dynamic is used for more power-intensive operations such as spraying with a blower sprayer. The Dynamic+ mode can be used for short bursts of additional energy when required. This mode enables additional power for a limited period of time during power-intensive operations, such as travelling up hills.

The 4-post cab of the Fendt e107 V Vario offers plenty of headroom and the large door makes entry and exit easy. The tractor does not have an exhaust pipe installed, hence enhancing visibility around the tractor.

Regardless of the climate farmers are operating in, comfort is ensured with Fendt’s climate-controlled cab.  The cab can be preheated so operators start their day in a perfectly comfortable environment in winter. A heated floor mat and heated seats increase comfort in low temperatures, while heated front and rear windows provide optimal visibility even in snow and frost. For the summer, the tractor has automatic air conditioning as standard.

In its basic setting, the cab meets all the standards of a cab with protection category 2, according to Fendt, but the filter system can also be upgraded to protection category 4 in accordance with EU standard EN15695, with protection against dust, liquid fertilisers and their vapours.

The Fendt e107 V Vario also comes with the FendtONE system for connectivity and smart farm management. A multifunction joystick and a 10-inch digital dashboard as well as a 12-inch terminal in the headliner are standard equipment. A 3L joystick, allowing further configuration of tractor controls via the joystick, is optional.

Smart functions such as the Fendt Guide guidance system, the automatic Fendt Section Control (SC) and Fendt Variable Rate Control (VRC) are available and displayed on individual tiles in the terminal.

For the first time, all machines in a series are connected to the Fendt telemetry system. This allows users access to critical machine data such as machine position, machine utilisation, speed, working time of the machine or the next service appointment.

In FendtONE offboard, users can also see specific data for the e-tractor, such as the current battery charge level and charging power.

Fendt has designed the e107 V Vario so it is compatible with all existing implements operators have been using with their tractors.

There are three attachment spaces and up to six independent hydraulic valves in the centre, as well as four hydraulic valves in the rear. Optional flat-sealing couplings are available for the hydraulic connections, which prevent any leakage and oil contamination.

Implements can also be driven via the front or rear PTO. In addition, the machine has a relief control for the rear power lift. This ensures the attachment is guided cleanly over the ground when carrying out tasks such as mulching.

The ISOBUS functions comply with the ISO11783 standard. They enable the operation of compatible implements via the Fendt terminal and FendtONE controls.

The Fendt e107 V Vario is equipped with 280/70R16 tyres for the front axle and 380/70R24 tyres for the rear axle as standard.

Fendt and Trelleborg have jointly developed the TM1 Eco Power tyre especially for this series. During development, the focus was on the balance between performance and energy efficiency, and more than 60 per cent of the components come from renewable sources. The tyres feature a particularly low rolling resistance that helps to save energy and extend the tractor’s battery life, Fendt says.

The Fendt e107 V Vario will be produced at the Marktoberdorf tractor factory from the fourth quarter of 2024 and is initially available for the pilot markets of Germany, Norway and the Netherlands. It will be gradually rolled out to other countries depending on market suitability.