The hybrid Auga M1: A Lithuanian powerhouse in testing phase
In Lithuania, efforts are underway to develop a completely new tractor: the Auga M1, a 500-horsepower tractor with four equal-sized wheels. This hybrid tractor combines a combustion engine powered by (bio)methane gas with a generator and battery pack, enabling it to drive electrically. Here’s a first impression.
The dark-brown tractor moves almost silently over the factory grounds in Rokiškis, in northern Lithuania. The only sound is a soft humming as the tractor is positioned for photos. Known as the Auga M1, this tractor uses a hybrid system. You fuel it with (bio)methane gas, which powers a combustion engine. Directly behind the engine, a generator is attached to produce electricity for both the wheel motors and the battery pack. The idea is that when the engine power isn’t needed, the energy is stored in the battery.
During the visit, the tractor operated silently because it was running entirely on the battery pack. Mindaugas Sakalauskas, the team member working on the tractor’s electrical components, hadn’t loaded methane gas cylinders, so the tractor was powered by the energy stored in its battery pack.
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Three tractor versions in testing phase
Four tractors have been built so far, including one green prototype similar in concept to the dark-brown Auga M1, of which three are currently operational. All three are undergoing tests, starting their second season. While the three tractors are essentially the same, each is constructed slightly differently to test various components. The configuration that performs best in real-world testing will enter production and hit the market.
Large scale initiave
Behind the tractor’s development is the Auga Group, a large company managing approximately 38,000 hectares of organic farmland across ten locations throughout Lithuania. The Auga Group also has offices and processing facilities in Vilnius. The tractors are built at a factory in Rokiškis and primarily tested at their Smilgiai location, a 1.5-hour drive away. This site includes a 3,000-hectare arable farm, a dairy farm, and a biogas plant, with the latter providing fuel for the Auga M1.
Auga Tech, the Auga Group’s manufacturing division, aims to produce twenty Auga M1 tractors by 2026. Plans are already underway for an electric tractor, the Auga E1, with field testing set to begin later this year and a target production of sixty units.
Electric motors
The tractor manufacturer is not yet ready to reveal the exact technology behind the sleek exterior. It’s also too early to confirm which components Auga will ultimately use, as these are still being tested this year.
The Auga M1 runs on a Ford V8 gas engine connected to a bright green generator, with a battery pack located behind the cabin. The rear wheels feature wheel motors within the large axles, while a single electric motor powers the front wheels via a short driveshaft.
Standing 4 meters tall, the Auga M1 boasts 500 horsepower, weighs 13 tons, and rides on massive IF 900/50 R42 tires. Only the front wheels steer, with the rear axle fixed, and the front axle can pivot but is not suspended.
Cassette refueling system
Auga has designed a unique refueling system for the tractor using methane gas cassettes. These cassettes, containing around 240 cubic meters of compressed gas, fit into the rear section of the tractor, accessible by opening the back like a cargo helicopter. You can swap the cassettes using a forklift or telehandler on the field, enabling the Auga M1 to work up to 12 hours on a single tank and quickly refuel.
