Autonomous All-Electric Tractor Runs Quietly On Its Own, Makes Farming Greener
The agriculture world is looking to harvest the benefits of sustainable innovation with the release of the industry’s “first” electric light autonomous tractor.
CNH’s latest New Holland T4 Electric Power aims to give farmers a hands-free approach to their workday by being able to operate independently. On top of that, by being all-electric, the T4 gives back to the environment by producing zero emissions.
First, looking at its specs, the T4 runs on a 120-hp motor with a top speed of 25 mph. Its battery can run through a full day’s worth of work, depending on its tasks. So it might still need a top-up sometime during the day. Thankfully, it only requires an hour for a complete charge.
The tractor also acts as a secondary power source as it has drills outlets and can double up as a backup generator in emergencies.
CNH notes that the T4 has cameras and sensors placed throughout the vehicle allowing it to remain completely autonomous and blend seamlessly with other machines.
Furthermore, a hard day’s work on the farm often leaves farmers with a laundry list of things to do. As a bonus, they can start up and operate the tractor from their phones, allowing them to focus on other things while the vehicle roams the fields.
The company states that the tractor is primed to work with livestock, mixed farms, and orchards. During testing, CNH found that noise was reduced by 90%, opening up the option to continue operations at night.
For those looking to work with vehicles that use more traditional power sources such as fuel, the company is also releasing T7 Methane Power LNG, as seen below. This model uses liquid natural gas instead of diesel.
This means that farmers can take excess agricultural or livestock manure and turn it into biomethane to be used as fuel for their tractors. Unfortunately, there has yet to be a release date for the T7.
The T4, on the other hand, will be ready by 2023. The company has not yet specified the market price. However, it does understand that farmers working on a budget must consider its cost. With that, CNH is placing its bets on the fact that it will save you money by up to 90% with its zero-fuel design and low maintenance.
