John Deere has released a video of a fully-electric battery-powered tractor. Known as the SESAM2, it is in the fields for testing.
This latest concept, which can also work autonomously, is a further development of the SESAM (Sustainable Energy Supply for Agricultural Machinery) project first previewed at SIMA 2017. Developed and tested in Europe, the concept shown on John Deere’s stand at the French show was a mock-up of a 6R chassis with its diesel engine swapped for a 130kWh battery pack. The electricity was used to power an adapted DirectDrive stepless transmission.
One battery charge on the SESAM concept lasted for up to four operating hours in typical mixed mode operations and at SIMA, John Deere staff stressed that more efficient or larger batteries were needed to be able to do a full day’s operation.
Built as part of the same German Gridcon 2 project to reduce farm machinery emissions to zero, the SESAM2 prototype not only looks different, but has a much larger 1000kWh battery pack. 500kW go to the all-electric powertrain with 1000kW available to power external machines. This extra power should allow SESAM2 to work for up to 10 hours at 80% engine load with a full battery.
Like the initial concept seen at the French show, we understand that the SESAM2 is still based on a 6R frame. The battery is apparently built over the entire length of the tractor, which we believe now weighs around 18t.
A detachable cab and wireless communication from the machine are part of SESAM2, allowing the tractor can be controlled either manually or automatically – with or without cab.
This is what visitors saw of the first SESAM tractor at the French SIMA show in 2017.
In the field, the cab can be dropped off on the headland allowing the operator to keep an eye on the tractor and make adjustments where necessary. This is not as inefficient as it might sound because the SESAM2 is designed to work in swarms allowing one operator to monitor and control multiple machines working in the same field.
Based on a 6R, the first SESAM concept looked very much like a standard tractor with the diesel engine swapped for a battery pack.
More details: SIMA 2017: John Deere electric tractor | profi
