Indian Tafe presents tractors powered by hydrogen and electricity

Tafe showcases an electric tractor and a hydrogen-powered tractor at its booth at the Agritechnica trade fair in Hannover, Germany. Both machines are black in color. The electric tractor will be for sale after the summer of 2024. The hydrogen tractor is not yet for sale; it is only a concept.

Compact tractor E30 with 27 hp

Tafe calls the electric tractor the E30. It is a compact tractor with 27 hp, equipped with a lithium-ion battery and a two-speed transmission. This allows the tractor to travel either 0 to 10 km/h or in a higher gear 0 to 24 km/h. Due to the electric motor, the tractor operates like a continuously variable transmission.

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Two pedals

Characteristic are the two pedals. One pedal drives the tractor forward, the other backward. According to the manufacturer, the tractor can perform heavy work for 4 hours on a single battery charge (such as mowing), and light tasks for 10 to 12 hours. Like electric cars, a fast charger can be used to almost fully charge it in an hour. With a ‘regular’ charger, this takes five hours.

Tafe says it will bring the electric tractor to the market after the summer of 2024. A price has not yet been announced.

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Hydrogen tractor not yet ready

The larger tractor beside it has a 55 hp Simpson combustion engine that runs on hydrogen. The tractor is equipped with hydrogen tanks behind the seat and under the platform floor.

According to Tafe, the tractor works, but there are no concrete plans to market it. The infrastructure for refueling hydrogen, according to the manufacturer, is not yet ready.