The Farmers Mart Feb-Mar 2019 - Issue 61 | Page 65
MACHINERY 65
• FEB/MAR 2019
ELECTRIC TRACTOR POWERED BY CABLE
John Deere has developed an electric cable powered tractor developing up to 400hp. The GridCON
research project and tractor are part of the company’s continued efforts in the electrification of
agricultural machinery, offering new opportunities for farms to supply and use their own energy.
JOHN Deere presented the
first fully electric tractor,
known as the SESAM (Sus-
tainable Energy Supply for
Agricultural Machinery), in
2016. The GridCON tractor
looks very different to its
predecessor, as it features
no cab and no rows of
batteries underneath the
bonnet. It is the first vehicle
to be fully electric, perma-
nently cable powered and
capable of fully autonomous
operation in the field.
Based on a John Deere
6210R tractor, GridCON
utilises a cable connection
from the field border to the
machine, which transfers
power continuously at over
300kW. A 100kW electric
motor powers the IVT
transmission, and there
is an additional outlet for
implements powered by a
200kW electric motor.
A drum fixed to the
tractor carries up to 1000m
of cable, although the
length can be extended if
required. In the field, the
cable is fed out and reeled
in while guided by a robot
arm to keep the operation
friction free and at low load.
An intelligent guidance sys-
tem is also used to prevent
the tractor running into or
over the cable.
At work, the tractor
follows preset rows fully
autonomously at operating
speeds of up to just over
12mph (20kph). The vehicle
can also be guided manu-
ally using a remote control,
which is particularly useful
when manoeuvring the
tractor to start work on field
borders for example.
A power supply of 2.5kV
AC is required, and the
GridCON tractor uses a 700V
DC bus for electric power
distribution both onboard
and for implements. The
Ple
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machine employs a cooling
infrastructure for off-board
electrical use, while total
efficiency of the drivetrain
is in the region of 85 per
cent.
Total empty weight of
the working prototype
GridCON tractor including
cable drum and robot
arm is about 8.5 tonnes,
so it is about the same
weight as a conventional
John Deere 6195R tractor
but with twice as much
power. Research engineers
are aiming to reduce the
weight further by at least
one tonne.
Besides this favourable
power to weight ratio, the
concept offers the twin
benefits of noiseless and
emission-free operation.
Compared to battery-pow-
ered tractors, the GridCON
tractor also delivers around
50 per cent lower machine
and operating costs.