ELECTRIC AGRICULTURE
295hp
The output of the Deutz
engine in the Belarus
3023 tractor, which
powers a 172kW
electric motor
electrically-driven implements,
via two AEF-compliant power
interfaces tted alongside the
standard power take o (PTO)
and hydraulic connections.
A limited number of pre-production
e100 tractors are on test, with
a production date to be con rmed.
John Deere showed its rst fullyelectric
battery-powered prototype
tractor at SIMA 2017. e SESAM
(Sustainable Energy Supply for
Agricultural Machinery) prototype
is based on a standard 6R model.
Performance is comparable with its
diesel equivalent, producing 130kW
(174hp) and using an adapted
version of Deere’s 50km/hr
DirectDrive transmission, but with
separate electric motors powering
the drivetrain and external power
drives. Average work time is four
hours from a full three-hour charge
period, with a calculated battery life
of 3,100 charging cycles.
The hybrid approach
Way back at Agritechnica 2009,
Belarusian manufacturer Minsk
44 iVTInternational.com November 2019
Tractor Works (MTZ) and its
Belarus brand showed a prototype
3023 tractor with a 295hp (220kW)
Deutz diesel engine and a 172kW
generator to power an electric motor
to drive the transaxle and power
take-o . Its twin-range transmission
provides stepless travel in 0-20 and
0-50km/hr speed bands. Since then,
development has progressed to
encompass a new 3623 model,
featuring a choice of 370hp (276kW)
Mercedes-Benz OM470 or 360hp
(268kW) Cummins QSL9 engines,
both powering a 270kW generator.
e company claims this stepping
stone to full electric drive o ers up
to 15% fuel savings in the eld and
up to 30 % on the road, plus the
considerable carrot
of a transmission –
an electric generator
plus brushless motor – with a 30,000
hour maintenance-free life. Belarus
suggests this is also the most coste
ective and reliable power transfer
method and that over 87% power
transfer is provided across a greater
range of forward speeds compared
to a continuously variable
transmission (CVT). e
transmission not only supplies
pulling-power equivalent to almost
twice that of its diesel equivalent,
but also provides electrical
resistance to slow the tractor
when required, raising braking
capacity by up to 20%.
e incorporation of a stationary
invertor means external power of
201hp (270kW) is also available via
a 230V, three phase AC supply. is
o ers the potential to be used to
provide emergency farm power or
to power stationary equipment such
as grain augers. It could also be used
for driving electrically-powered
implements – manufacturers are
already working on low-torque
machines such as grass rakes and
fans for pneumatic seed drills, as
well as higher-demand applications
such as powered axles for trailed
implements to provide additional
traction. With power transfer from
ABOVE: 2009’s Belarus 3023
tractor paved the way for
more extensive electrifi cation
in with its groundbreaking
design that incorporates an
electric motor
RIGHT: The Belarus transaxle
design utilises a conventional
diesel engine to power an
electric generator
/iVTInternational.com
