Electricity is more efficient than mechanical drive systems, which could save farmers money over the long haul
The electric drive farm tractor is no longer just a dream.
The Autonomous Tractor Corp. of Fargo, North Dakota, delivered its first unit last month.
The company made its debut at Fargo’s Big Iron Show in September 2012, when it introduced the Spirit Autonomous eDrive tractor.
The odd looking machine left farmers puzzled by the fact that it did not have a cab. Where does the driver sit?
The answer is that ATC’s gold coloured, toaster-shaped prototype was designed to be remote controlled, guided by prescription field pattern maps working with radio towers, which broadcast the company’s proprietary Laser Radio Navigation System.
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The Spirit introduced three new technologies:
- Electric drive.
- A unique tractor chassis with two diesel engines.
- No onboard operator controls.
However, introducing three new technologies in the same tractor turned out to be too much of a challenge.
As a result, ATC decided to bring its new technologies to market in three distinct stages.
The first stage would be a conversion process to install eDrive on existing high-horsepower North American tractors.
With an increase in fuel efficiency of 10 to 20 percent over straight diesel, ATC head Craig Schulz said the eDrive conversion tractors should draw attention to the electric drive concept.
“So instead of focusing on a completely redesigned, cab-less tractor right away, we’ve start retrofitting farmers’ existing tractors with eDrive diesel-electric. And in doing so, we got to market much more quickly,” he said.
“We just delivered our first diesel-electric conversion to a major customer, Family Farm Group near St. Louis, Missouri. (Their farmer members) operate about 1.5 million acres in 70 locations and they have 496 tractors. Their first model 8760 with eDrive is at work right now in the southern states. They’ll be paying close attention to the performance and gathering data to give us feedback.”
Schulz said the ATC retrofit system is designed for older tractors from 200 to 600 horsepower. On the big tractors, the company replace the original engine with two 202 h.p. Isuzu diesels, each of which drives a 200 h.p. generator.
The generators power four 125 h.p. oil-cooled electric wheel motors, each of which is controlled by its own proprietary variable frequency drive. One joystick manages steering, speed and implement control. The price tag is $225,000.
For more information, contact Schulz at 203-993-0828 or kraig@atcspirit.com or visit www.autonomoustractor.com or www.producer.com/2012/09/electric-tractor-needs-no-operator.
