't think that full-electric tractors are going to show up
That's why the grid-battery "hybrid" is the most cost effective solution
The tractor never goes very far and can work with a relatively small battery, a couple of Teslas would be more than enough.
The small cell phone or lap top batteries wired in parallel would charge up in a couple of minutes.
rs, and higher in efficiency than gasoline cars.
Diesel power is already 3X more than grid power and the spiraling is _not_ going to stop.
A few percentage points in efficiency over spark ignition will not save diesel.
high power; near the most efficient RPM possible).
They waste tons idling at the end of a field.
Even EVs don't get much either, maybe 20% efficiency.
s to provide high-power for an entire work-day out in the
Sounds like the perfect application for an electric moror.
To drain money out of the farmer's pocket.
back-of-the-envelope calculations, we need a 6-10X
n be matched with equal power and equal weight.
That's why the tractor is recharged each lap. It can get by with a relatively small battery.
Passenger vehicles don't have the option of getting recharged every 6
- 10 minutes.
The electric tractor is a much better application of batteries.
The driving range of a tractor is half a mile with the two wire system on a quarter square.
electric for a while.
A tractor would be easy to prototype.
It's not like retolling a production line for a Prius or Volt.
in diesel-electric locomotives) does save fuel, increases
The savings aren't significant.
I was planning for 6 - 10 an hour.
Every time the tractor makes it across the field or back it recharges.
Every time you decrease the time between charges you decrease battery cost and size.
Road vehicles do _not_ have this option.
X per work day.
Farmers find it acceptable to paying drivers $100 to sit at border crossings to buy diesel at $3/gallon.
Why not instead pay the tractor operator to sit at a line a couple of minutes after each pass?
Bret Cahill