An organic food producer in Europe taking the machinery world by surprise, unveiling the world’s first hybrid bio-methane and electric tractor.
Auga says its M1 tractor can replace a 400 horsepower diesel tractor and run for up to 12 hours thanks to larger, quick-change bio-methane gas cartridges.
As its CEO says, the company took on a project three years ago to focus on sustainability and was ‘shocked’ to see its CO2 emissions total.
Auga is a Lithuanian-based company that manages more than 96,000 acres of organic farming including crops, dairy cows, chickens and mushroom growing. The company employs more than 1,200 people.
“Our mission is to bring technology to farmers and create a new carbon value chain, deliver consumers food with no cost to nature, and by consuming the foot people will be making a positive impact on climate change every day,” says company CEO Kęstutis Juščiu. “We will produce a model for food production at no cost to nature.”
He says the company recognized that it needed to “think outside of the box” to bring new ways to address its emissions and carbon footprint.
To develop a zero-emission tractor, the company focused on using replaceable biomethane cartridges. The M1 tractor is powered by a hybrid gas and electric motor with a biomethane internal combustion engine generating energy and transferring it directly to electric motors that spin the wheels.
Jusciu explains the design of the tractor allows it to weigh one-third less than a conventional tractor, which will help reduce soil compaction. The engineering also allows the tractor to tow heavy implements at a lower energy consumption.
He says this is just one step in the company’s journey with more news to come in the next year specific to livestock.
You can watch the unveiling of the M1 tractor here:
