Determination of design requirements and characteristic analysis of powertrain configurations for electric tractors based on actual agricultural workload

Abstract

Abstract Determining the design requirements for an electric tractor is crucial for its optimal configuration, as specifications vary across different agricultural operations, field sizes, and field characteristics. This study delineates the design requirements for electric tractors based on agricultural workload assessments. Subsequently, electric-tractor powertrain configurations were proposed, and their performance characteristics were analyzed. Initially, the agricultural workload for tractors with internal combustion engines of comparable class was measured during plow tillage, rotary tillage, and driving operations. Following this, the design requirements for electric tractors were conceptualized as power envelope curves derived from the measured agricultural workloads. These requirements were categorized into traction power and PTO (power take-off) power design requirements, considering the distinctive features of tractor operations in agriculture. Based on these stipulated requirements, three electric-tractor powertrain configurations were suggested. The performance of these configurations was evaluated concerning motor specifications, structural complexity, powertrain efficiency, and control difficulty. The results can be used as a basis for a methodology for establishing electric-tractor design requirements and for devising powertrain configurations, serving as a significant resource for future electric-tractor design and development.