The prototype of an electric tractor was made in Turkey and was introduced in Manisa Alaşehir in 2019. Some companıes have also tried to produce an electric tractor. One of them was John Deere with its study on the subject, but it did not release it. In 2017, the German company Fendth, within the AGCO group, the manufacturer of Massey Ferguson and Fendt tractors, introduced an electric and cordless tractor. However, the sale price has not been announced and their legal proceedings continue. For this reason, Turkey is the first country to launch an electric tractor.
This is an important initiative for agriculture due to the high price of diesel, which is one of the most important input costs for farmers. The electric tractor can work continuously for 7 hours with a power supply time of 45 minutes. At the same time, the tractor makes no noise or sound. Farmers who have tractors in the field from morning to evening have around 500-600 Turkish lira the cost of diesel. The goal is to reduce these costs to 20-30 Turkish lira, which represents 95% fuel savings. One of the biggest advantages is that an electric tractor can save fuel and reduce farmers' costs.
The electric tractor production project was implemented with the contribution of the Istanbul University of Technology as a project of the Directorate-General for Agricultural Research and Policy (TAGEM) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project partner and practitioner is DMA (Derindere Motor Vehicles), Chairman of the Board of OveO Energy Storage Systems Önder Yol.
Mass production of Turkey's first electric tractor was postponed for a month to October due to a coronavirus pandemic. Demand for a domestic tractor is high according to local sources because fuel costs are low. The electric tractor is expected to help farmers save 133,000 Turkish lira a year, according to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The ministry plans to produce around 10,000 electric tractors at its plant in the northwestern province of Gebze in Kocaeli, which is the focal point of the Turkish automotive industry. The prototype of a Turkish electric tractor with 105 horsepower will run on 236 batteries with a life of 20 years. Another version with 250 horsepower will be produced for export.
Together with the first electric tractor, Turkey can offer not only infrastructure but also the knowledge that is useful to improve lives all over the world. Due to the reduction in fuel consumption, electric tractors are important for agriculture. It works on batteries, which facilitates the farming and economy of agriculture. Although farmland income is increased through technology, more can be done to address the burden on farmers.