Fendt is developing a battery-electric tractor suited for practical use. The current state of the compact Fendt e100 Vario tractor’s development is very promising and delivers a high level of efficiency alongside careful resource use.
Over the past three years, possible application areas for the Fendt e100 Vario were further studied and specific requirement profiles drawn up. As a result, the Fendt e100 Vario tractor has gone through numerous practical trials with different requirements and task ranges: in agriculture as well as municipal work, including winter road maintenance. Based on the results obtained, the Fendt e100 Vario was technically revised and refined.
Simple charging with no additional investment
Agricultural enterprises and the municipal sector don’t yet use DC fast-charging outlets (Superchargers). That’s why the Fendt e100 Vario is now fitted with a Type 2 connector instead of a CCS connector. In addition, the tractor comes with a charging cable for 400 V outlets with up to 32 A, corresponding to roughly a 22 kW charging power. This way, the battery can be fully charged in 5 hours. Of course, the DC fast-charging function is still available too.
Improved thermal management
Various battery systems were investigated during further development. They’re being intensively tested in various field trials and at test stations. Thanks to a change in the thermal-management control system, it’s become possible to heat the battery to operating temperature in winter within a few minutes, or cool it accordingly in summer. Similarly, the cab can be pre-heated or pre-cooled.
Use across different applications
The Fendt e100 Vario tractor has proven itself excellently in various practical trials: in the field with implements driven conventionally via the PTO, such as a tedder, a windrower or a mixer wagon, as well as with hydraulically driven implements such as sweeper brushes, or electrically driven ones like salt spreaders in winter. The Fendt e100 Vario tractor’s output and versatility of application have been proven. This means the Fendt e100 Vario can be used with both new electrified and traditional mounted implements.
Careful use of resources
At energy-generating companies with their own electricity production, the Fendt e100 Vario tractor can be directly included in a closed energy loop. This reduces fossil-fuel use and lowers CO2 emissions. The Fendt e100 Vario can be used, for example, as a general-purpose tractor for yard work on the farm. The battery-electric drive’s high efficiency also contributes to optimal resource use. On the Fendt e100 Vario, full PTO torque is available even at a standstill.
Development of the battery-electric Fendt e100 Vario tractor will continue. Today, it’s at the project stage, strategically linked to the electrification of agricultural machinery.
