STORY: This is the TADUS, a tractor powered by electricity.

It is a rarity: Agricultural machines typically run on diesel fuel.

:: Garching an der Alz, Germany

And major manufacturers have so far hardly sold any e-tractors.

Thaddaeus and Johanna Baier in Germany want to change that.

:: Sustainable Business

Thaddaeus was inspired by the solar panels on the roofs of various farms.

He hopes the TADUS can cut down on energy use and significantly cut running costs.

:: Thaddaeus Baier, Tractor developer

“If I mechanize it in the vehicle, it costs me perhaps ten cents per wheel. If I generate the same from diesel, I'm looking at around 50 cents - almost five times what it costs me to generate my own electricity. This vehicle drives incredibly economically and efficiently."

The prototype is currently being tested on a farm in Bavaria.

Farmer Franz Obereisenbuchner has been using the “TADUS” for almost a year. His farm's solar panels provide the electricity that powers the tractor.

:: Franz Obereisenbuchner, Farmer

"In my opinion, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages. Firstly, there are cost savings because we no longer have to buy diesel and can generate the electricity we need ourselves with our PV (photovoltaics) systems. At the same time, the tractor can refuel with the electricity that we would otherwise only feed into the grid at a low price. So we can really count on a favorable electricity price."

The electric tractor can be used for five to ten hours on a single charge.

But there is a trade-off: The intensity of the work has to be taken into account.

While many everyday tasks can be carried out well with the e-tractor, it is not suitable for very intensive work with heavy machinery, such as plowing.

And charging the battery can take up to eight hours.

If there is urgent work to be done on the tractor, owners can also replace the battery with an exchangeable one.

Here’s Johanna Baier.

:: Johanna Baier, Tractor developer

"If we now compare ourselves with conventional tractors in the premium segment, we can say that they cost around 180,000 to 200,000 euros. And if we take into account the existing subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, we will be around 35% more expensive. However, it is important to note that the operating costs of our tractor are reduced so much that these additional costs are recouped within 2000 to 3000 operating hours. And from then on, you only save money."