Two paddocks of thought

The agriculture sector is not immune to electrification – but the jury is out on just how far it can extend, at least in the short to medium term.

Recently, Agriculture Victoria conducted a trial that showed an electric side-by-side vehicle model charged from the grid cost $19,339 to own for three years. By comparison, diesel cost $28,570, while petrol came in at $24,329.

Carbon dioxide emissions were more than halved.

While not everyone accepts this data at face value, it’s no wonder that John Deere regards electrification as one of three core technologies shaping the future.

“Electrification isn’t just about using batteries as the power source,” the company’s website states.

“It’s about using electrical drives to replace engines and hydraulics. Electric motors have huge torque at low speeds, they’re more efficient, reliable and lighter.”

Diesel still needed to drive farming

However, not everyone is convinced.

Malcolm Eglinton manages Eglinton Bros in Maitland and sells everything from mowers to commercial farming equipment, including tractors, seeding equipment, harvesters and sprayers.

Over 53 years, he has watched technology reshape his sector for the better. The possibilities, he said, are endless.

Nevertheless, he believes the future of farming remains with diesel, not electric vehicles, which he said are being pushed by governments who either don’t understand or are ignoring the realities of the industry.

And he is sceptical about the validity of one-off studies like the Agriculture Victoria trial.

“As a diesel mechanic, I honestly don’t believe the EV is going to be the way of the future.

“The electrification is largely small tractors, mowers and gators, not large ag.

“The major companies have said to me that large diesel engines are here for the long term.

“Things like electricity supply have to be dealt with. If everyone turned over to EVs overnight, we haven’t got enough supply.

“What about the dangers of fires and the disposal of batteries? I’ve asked these questions of politicians and I just don’t see that they’ve been answered sufficiently.”

Malcolm also points out that talk of electric drives in ag relate to components that use electricity generated by the diesel engine to drive a component. An electric motor then replaces a hydraulic motor, for example.

That’s not to say he doesn’t sell any EVs.

“I sold an electric gator to a school. It’s not noisy around the classrooms so they love it.

“And electric mowers are in the pipeline of production.

“Those things will come in for convenience. If you’re out mowing the lawn and the neighbours can’t hear it, you’ll be very popular.”

But only, Malcolm says, at the right price.

“If it’s the same money as an internal combustion engine, you can see the practicalities. If it’s twice the price, people won’t buy it.”

Those same practicalities don’t extend to EVs running bigger farm machinery, according to Malcolm.

“As a mechanic, I understand there is no way in the world they can do EVs on a harvester or a tractor in the sort of conditions we work in.

“For one thing, the battery power that would be required to power a motor of that capacity just won’t have the lasting capability.”

Progress

Malcolm said technology has already contributed to a significant reduction in emissions in agriculture.

“It has driven efficiencies in machinery not because government said so but because of competition.

“When you’re trying to sell your product, you say, ‘my product will do this better than that one’ and that’s what drives it.”