Ag Informer – The Future of eFarming

Battery-powered hand tools now own the fix-it market. Yard equipment has its cell sights set on suburbia. Farm country, however, requires a much higher threshold of reliability. That isn’t slowing down the flood of new lithium-ion powered equipment now making its way to dealer lots. Just in the last year ag companies such as CNH, Caterpillar, Doosan Bobcat, John Deere, Komatsu, Yanmar and Volvo have released prototypes or plans for industrial-sized electric equipment.

Some companies such as Monarch Tractor are already trying to establish a toehold. Its MK-V tractors have been used in California wineries since 2020. The fully electric, autonomous tractors feature 10 hours of runtime, 70 peak hp, 40 hp continuous, and twice the torque of a comparable conventional tractor.

Monarch MK-V Electric Tractor
Monarch MK-V

Production is set to begin this year. Monarch also offers a battery swap cart to keep the tractor running and uses 90% fewer moving parts than a comparable diesel unit.

CNH Industrial has been collaborating with Monarch. In December 2022 it announced an electric tractor prototype, which will ultimately be a Case IH branded model also with autonomous capabilities.

Hon Hai Technology Group (“Foxconn”) today announced the start of production in Ohio of the Monarch MK-V, the first fully electric, driver-optional, smart tractors, with the initial five tractors rolling off the production line for delivery to customers. In June 2022, Foxconn signed a contract manufacturing agreement  with Zimeno Inc. D/B/A Monarch Tractor (“Monarch Tractor”) to build Monarch Tractor’s next-generation agricultural equipment and battery packs at the Foxconn Ohio facility.