Deere's Revoltionary Electric Tractor

Deere s Revoltionary Electric Tractor TRACTORS Miscellaneous Deere made a big splash at Agritechnica with a new tractor that might be the start of a new trend in electric-powered farm equipment The 7030E Series tractors have a built-in power generator that makes both 400-volt 3-phase power and 230-volt DC power on-the-go The tractor raises the question Is this the end of hydraulics and pto s?
    Klaus Hahn engineer at the John Deere Works in Mannheim Germany says the new tractor is definitely the start of something big It was a chicken or egg thing he told FARM SHOW Implement manufacturers wouldn t develop electric-powered equipment without a tractor that could produce it And no one would make electric-powered equipment without a tractor to power them
    The tractor has a new type of flywheel with a built-in generator that integrates the generation of electricity with normal operation
    An all-electric twin-disc fertilizer spreader is the first implement designed to take advantage of the new tractor s capabilities It uses the three-phase power to drive spreader motors while 12 V power drives the agitators and two electric actuators
    The spreader offers a clear example of the benefits of electric drives Drive speeds are controlled independently of tractor ground speed or rpm Speeds are easy to adjust and hold constant Spinner discs can be shut down more quickly thanks to the electrical braking of disc motors The system is also easy to connect; simply plug a cable from the implement into the tractor s rear outlet and spread No need to mess with hydraulics
     Electric motor drives can be more efficient than mechanical or hydraulic-powered drives says Hahn They are not affected by the temperature and in the case of DC motors offer infinitely variable speed control They also eliminate the need for hydraulic hoses and pto shafts
    The tractors themselves also take advantage of available electric power Heating and air conditioning in the cab lights seat heater and an on-board air compressor run on the independent electric power system so they always have full power regardless of engine rpm s Another energy-saving benefit is the independently-powered fan for the tractor s engine cooling system The fan can also be reversed to clean dust and debris from the tractor grille
    In addition the tractor also offers AC outlets to power hand tools and other equipment simply by plugging them into a panel on the side of the tractor
    Hahn says two models with 200 and 211 hp will enter production in 2008 in Europe Both tractors still have full hydraulics and pto s North American introduction will depend on what happens in Europe
    Now that the new tractor is ready for market Hahn expects to see new equipment emerge We will see the number of uses grow he says You can drive anything with electricity that you can drive with hydraulics or pto power
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Klaus Hahn John Deere Werke Mannheim Zweigniederlassung der Deere & Company Windeckstr 90 D-68163 Mannheim Germany ph 49 621 829-5371; fax 49 621 829-45-5371; hahnklaus@johndeere com

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