Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LX
Written by Ben McFADZEAN, Lancelot BUTTERS
Whilst manufacturers in the passenger car, commercial and public service vehicle industries have introduced hybrid and all-electric vehicles, to commercial success, there is an apparent lack of hybrid and all-electric technology in the agricultural machinery sector. This project used a three-stage approach to investigate whether current hybrid and all-electric drivetrains could feasibly replace the diesel engine in an agricultural tractor. Firstly, a current systems review, gathered information from a range of industries where alternative powertrains have been successful, to gain an understanding of the properties and capabilities of available systems. The second element; a series of real-world practical tests, collected data about the requirements of agricultural tractors in use, this would be used to determine whether the alternative technology currently available could cope with the demands placed on a machine. Finally, a questionnaire, collected data from those working in the agricultural sector; this would be used to gauge attitudes and opinions towards alternative power systems. There were two sets of practical tests. The first used a McCormick MC120, in a round bale loading exercise, on a farm in Cheshire, in November of 2015. The second set of tests used a New Holland TS90, operating a feeder wagon, on a medium sized dairy farm, in Derbyshire. These tests ran from November 2015 to early February 2016. Calculations proved the cost of charging an all-electric system capable of producing the required output of the practical tests would be more than the cost of diesel for the same output.
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