Empowering Electric Tractors with Solar Panels

Electric Tractor with Solar Panels

In our country, there exists a saying: "the sun is a deadly laser." This is not just a popular saying, but rather a meme circulating online. Nonetheless, LiamTronix felt the cancerous rays this harvesting season when he used his electric tractor. He realized that with solar panels already mounted on the ground, he could build a roof for his tractor that would help charge the batteries. Another benefit is safety: the old Massey-Ferguson at the heart of the electric tractor's construction lacked any protection against tipping over, as it dated back to the 1960s. Including a protective casing in this construction is considered a very wise choice.

Regarding the batteries, Liam seized the opportunity to upgrade to a larger LiFePo pack, replacing the LiIon pack he initially installed in 2024. On the new casing, above the upgraded battery, Liam mounted four second-hand solar panels of 225 W each. While this is below 1kW, even in ideal conditions, the tractor will not receive a substantial amount of energy while operating. During the northern winters, Liam can only achieve about 80 W from the panel set. Although this does not generate much work, who would want a tractor without a cabin or heating when temperatures drop below zero?

In contrast, summer significantly improves the situation. Liam estimates that the panels installed on the roof will provide all the necessary energy to operate the tractor during the few hours a day he intends to use it. If you're wondering how practical this solution is, the answer is that the tractor can operate efficiently - we monitored Liam's progress in the first months of 2025.