Agrifac is introducing a new drive platform for its current generation of self-propelled crop sprayers, making the same machine available in a diesel-electric, hybrid or fully electric configuration.
The concept is built around a fully electric drivetrain. How the required electrical energy is generated and stored can be tailored to the application and to the available infrastructure. As other energy sources become technically and economically viable in the future, so machines can be adapted further.
Agrifac says the change is driven by changing market demands, stricter emissions regulations and the rapid development of battery and energy technology. The focus is not on one specific energy source, but on an electric drive that can be supplied with energy in a variety of ways.
The diesel-electric configuration is expected to reduce fuel consumption by around 35%, the hybrid configuration is expected to provide a 50% reduction. External charging is possible with the hybrid configuration, but not essential. The fully electric configuration enables local zero-emission operation. This variant is particularly attractive for applications where sufficient charging capacity is available and daily operations fit within the battery capacity, says the company.
Agrifac also suggests the electric drivetrain brings increased operator comfort through more even power delivery, producing smoother machine movements.
Power choices
“The transition to a more sustainable drive system does not take the same course in every market or for every customer. With this platform, we are developing a single electric base to which different forms of energy supply can be applied. This allows the customer to choose a solution that suits their operations, without us losing sight of the machine’s usability,” says Friso Berkhout, Systems Innovation Engineer at Agrifac.
The drive platform will be further developed, tested and validated over the coming period. Based on the current development schedule, Agrifac aims to deliver a first machine featuring this drive concept in 2027. The exact configuration and the timing of the market launch will depend on the results of further field testing and on the needs of customers and markets.
