Potential of Powertrain Electrification in a mid-size Tractor for a more sustainable agriculture

Nowadays, global warming and emission regulations are leading manufacturers and scientific community interests towards off-highway vehicles electrification. This work provides potentials evaluation of powertrain electrification applied to a mid-size tractor. Modelling tools are exploited to perform simulations. Given the lack of standardized working cycles, field data measurements are exploited to build 6 different working cycles representative of specific tractor working conditions. A full hybrid series architecture with a thermostat control logic is investigated as a possible solution for a mid-size tractor. As result, a performance comparison is made between the traditional Internal Combustion Engine and the proposed electrified powertrain. Benefits are evaluated in terms of engine efficiency and fuel consumption.