THE new Belarus electric tractor is creating a lot of interest in North America.
Last week Belarus distributor MTZ Equipment announced United States and Canadian farmers would be able to buy a 268 kilowatt (360hp) diesel-electric tractor for between $A383,000 and $450,000 depending on various options.
This week, MTZ vice president (sales and marketing) Arie Prilik said the up-coming MTZ 3622 was similar to an MTZ model awarded a silver medal at the 2009 Agritechnica Show in Germany.
He also revealed it had been in commercial production for sales to eastern European farmers for the past five years.
“We have proven technology and competitive pricing in a machine that can go to work immediately,” he explained.
“While diesel-electric rail locomotives have been operational for more than 70 years, the MTZ 3622, with its diesel engine, is designed to take advantage of whatever power source the market provides in the future.
“We think electric motors are the way to go, and what powers them can be diesel engines, hydrogen engines or fuel cells, or batteries charged by whatever the grid is using.
“Right now, batteries are not economically viable so our tractor uses diesel power, but it is ready to accept whatever power source is available in the future.”
The new North American machines, built in Minsk, Belarus, will be powered with either a 268kW QSL9 Cummins diesel engine, or an OM 470 Mercedes rated at 278kW (373hp).
Both engines are Tier 4 Final emission-compliant, and MTZ claims that because of the efficiencies of the electro-mechanical transmission, the engines will burn about 15 per cent less fuel per hectare than a conventional tractor with a CVT transmission.
Mr Prilik said electric power promised to revolutionise the way implements were built.
“Take an air seeder, for example,” he said.
“If you replace the many hydraulic lines and motors with cheap, widely-available electric motors (which are rated to run up to 200,000 hours) and one power extender, you would eliminate much of the maintenance and down time of the hydraulic system as well as the weight, mess and heat associated with such designs.
“An electric air seeder might require 30-40kW (40-54hp) to operate, but with our 270kW (360hp) power station, there’s plenty of reserve.”
Mr Prilik said mobile AC power also could be used in applications such as on-the-go feed grinders, temporary irrigation or drainage pumping requirements, or emergency farm power.
The MTZ features a 174kW (233hp), 1000 rpm PTO in the rear and an optional 54kW (73hp) electric-drive PTO up front.
Hydraulics flow at 200 litres a minute gives a 5000 kilogram optional front three-point lift capacity and 10,000kg in the rear.
The new tractor is available with Trimble GPS auto-steer and a Windows-based, owner-owned service diagnostics system.
There is no indication when the tractors will be available for the Australian market.