45 hp electric tractor

Conhntr · #41 02/11/13, 08:58 PM

Based on you usage mentioned above (couple hours a day, a couple days a week) a diesel 20hp would be around 1000$ in fuel cost/year. Just not enough money on the table to make the complexity and unkowns of an unproven system worth the risk.

The technology is just not there, even large scale.

The electric car is HEAVILY subsidized and still not competitive.

Chevy volt 30,000 (40,000-10,000 tax rebates) actuall cost to chevy is estimated at 90k per unit!!!

Ford fiesta (or similar) 13,000 fuel for 100,000 miles 9500$= 22,000

Even with approximately 60,000$ in subsidies the volt still cost 8k more to hit 100,000 miles. The tech is simply not here yet for batteries to compete with fossil fuel as a vehicle power storage medium

*tons of assumptions here
Free electricity for the volt, free charging setup
Maintnance cost will be the same
Resale-- volt is much more initially, but i doubt anyone will want a 1st gen electric with 100,0miles
Battery replacment
Free financing-- for most the extra 17k upfront for the volt will be financed so will end up paying 25k for it
Gas stays at 3.60
Etc etc.

Paul Wheaton · #42 02/12/13, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

That is your best video yet, Paul, really liked it. The fella explained it well too, and obviously knows what he's talking about.

I have a bunch of podcasts with him. He has worked as an engineer in the solar and battery fields for decades.

simi-steading · #43 02/12/13, 02:57 PM

When I went to the link in the OP, the very first thing I thought of....

That thing would cost me a fortune in solar panels.. I'd be ripping them off constantly with all the trees on our property...

where I want to · #44 02/12/13, 03:07 PM

I have an Elec-trak small garden tractor. In was made in 1973? or 1978- I don't remember which. I have the mowing deck and rototiller but not the front end loader accessory.
It moves (actually moved- I haven't used it in a couple of years as I hadn't needed it and would need work to get running I'm sure) faster than any gas tractor I ever had. It could mow for about 6 hours or more on a single charge. And haul stuff around for all day. And it could haul a lot of weight.

salmonslayer · #45 02/12/13, 06:34 PM

I can see where an electric small tractor like that could be very useful but the so called "quiet" isnt a selling point for me. I thought the sound was not nearly as pleasing as an old tractor or even a new small diesel. But I have to give credit to the inventor, he produced something most people would be comfortable with and if he can get the cost within reason I think something like that could really sell.

primal1 · #46 02/12/13, 06:44 PM

I haven't priced tractors but if he can pull it off for $15k, does that really sound unreasonable?.. i'm in awe and for people who really want to get away from fossil fuels it's worth the extra money.. although it depends how much his sticky solar stuff goes for too.

Conhntr · #47 02/13/13, 06:21 AM

Primal that 15k doesnt seem realistic. Just a "roller" (no motor) thats size with a bucket would be 15 or more. He probably priced what the parts cost him.

Once he factors in labor, regulatory compliance, taxes, distrubution, warranty etc it wont be 15

fantasymaker · #48 02/13/13, 07:57 AM

I don't see a problem with battery capacity. This seems like a small tractor,IF it were used for heavy work like plowing it wouldn't be that much. I just don't see many folks plowing hundreds of acres with it.
EVEN if you were going to make it your sole tractor and plow the 35 acre field on your 40 acre homestead it would work fine. Simply have another battery pack and charge one off the grid while using the other. It wouldn't be a problem to change them out every hour or 2.

primal1 · #49 02/13/13, 08:15 AM

well he does say that one is about $30k, but the plow tractor which wouldn't have some of the 'bells and whistles'.. so at best it would be bare bones but no mention of it being a roller... i'll keep hoping he pulls it off anyway

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conhntr

Primal that 15k doesnt seem realistic. Just a "roller" (no motor) thats size with a bucket would be 15 or more. He probably priced what the parts cost him.

Once he factors in labor, regulatory compliance, taxes, distrubution, warranty etc it wont be 15

Paul Wheaton · #50 02/14/13, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where I want to

I have an Elec-trak small garden tractor. In was made in 1973? or 1978- I don't remember which. I have the mowing deck and rototiller but not the front end loader accessory.
It moves (actually moved- I haven't used it in a couple of years as I hadn't needed it and would need work to get running I'm sure) faster than any gas tractor I ever had. It could mow for about 6 hours or more on a single charge. And haul stuff around for all day. And it could haul a lot of weight.

Any pictures?

Paul Wheaton · #51 02/14/13, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conhntr

Primal that 15k doesnt seem realistic. Just a "roller" (no motor) thats size with a bucket would be 15 or more. He probably priced what the parts cost him.

Once he factors in labor, regulatory compliance, taxes, distrubution, warranty etc it wont be 15

The price is for selling them at 15. And the price would be lower still for higher production numbers.

Johnny Dolittle · #52 02/14/13, 04:17 PM

I'm not paying $30,000 for an electric tractor built on a Chinese chassis

where I want to · #53 02/14/13, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Wheaton

Any pictures?

I'll have to unbury it to do it. But they are still somewhat available. There's an elec-trac forum on line- www.elec-trak.org and it has lots of pictures.

There were various sizes made with a number of attachments.

What I was trying to say, however unclearly, was that my electric tractor could pull a lot of weight compared to a gas tractor.

Johnny Dolittle · #54 02/14/13, 05:04 PM

FYI here is a garden tractor forum for electrics.... includes DIY conversions and production models from 1960-70 era.

I am waiting for an electric combine .... probably will be waiting for a long time !!!!!!

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/forum/49-electric/

Johnny Dolittle · #55 02/14/13, 05:15 PM

Same man with the 45 hp Chinese tractor conversion also has a trac machine with pto and 3ph. He rototills in the video . This is impressive

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/...ctric-tractor/

Johnny Dolittle · #56 02/14/13, 05:28 PM

Wow 1966 Massey Ferguson garden tractor originally 10 hp gas. He left in the original belt driven 4 speed Peerless tranny and drives it with an electric motor. I think lift is electric actuator . Uses 3 12 V batteries ..... This is impressive and an easy looking conversion

Paul Wheaton · #57 02/15/13, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Dolittle

Same man with the 45 hp Chinese tractor conversion also has a trac machine with pto and 3ph. He rototills in the video . This is impressive

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/...ctric-tractor/

I like that one better. But when I was there, he had that one all taken apart and was adding new whizbangery to it.

Raven12 · #58 02/16/13, 06:38 PM

Forget the tractor...did you ask him how much the peel and stick solar panels are going to cost? The guy has a fortune on top of his barn.

I have been researching solar. There are endless possibilities with the science but the big hurdle is affordability. The tractor is a great idea but it doesn't seem very practical for the average farmer.

primal1 · #59 02/16/13, 06:41 PM

I was very curious about the cost of peel and stick too!

Raven12 · #60 02/16/13, 06:49 PM

I'm not sure if I missed it but did he say how many kwh's for the battery?