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The push for alternative engines in tractors as prices continue to climb

Record fuel prices have an equipment manufacturer studying alternative engines for farmers and ranchers.

Daryl Theis, Head of Sales and Marketing with CLAAS North America, says the cost and emissions of a diesel machine could create a market for electric engines. “As infrastructure develops, certainly we’ll see more and more opportunities for electric. It’s going to be one of those slow races, it won’t be a sprint. It will certainly be a marathon.”

He tells Brownfield technology and infrastructure are the biggest challenges for development. “None of these farmers or very few of these farmers have charging stations or thinks like that on their farm,” he says. “You can think about a machine to run what may be 12 to 18 hours a day and getting that charge and stopping to charge would be a pretty significant challenge and hurdle.”

Until then, Theis says a more fuel-efficient diesel engine is possible, but usually it’s designed individually for a specific job. “It all kind of works together, but ultimately it has to have better fuel efficiency. It really starts with what we call top-tier engineering to ensure that design on the front end, so we don’t have to compensate for horsepower on the backend.”

Earlier this week, CLAAS announced it’s giving farmers a chance to fuel their fleet by giving away $10,000 in farm diesel fuel. Farmers can register to win through July 31.

Daryl Theis with CLAAS North America:

  • I don’t think that will work For many reasons, Off the start, we don’t bring our equipment back
    to the barn for 3-4 days at a time. Everything can not be electrified, not enough supply.

  • I also agree with Ken no one has put an energy cost with the electric vehicles the power is not free the concept is just that however over time maybe we will see more advances the idea may work in europe however thats a maybe

    in Australia there is not a power supply in every field what do we do with all the dead batteries when this all pops up the current battery for starting seem to have issues with disposal what are the electic vehicle batteries made from how long will they last
    what happens if a tractor sits in the field due to wet weather how do you get it charged to work again if as sometimes tractors have spent a long time in the field waiting for weather
    time will show what evolves from the idea and the cost seems to be also a secret

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