How an electric tractor works
Three parts do the work. The battery stores energy, usually lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells chosen for their long cycle life and tolerance of heat. The motor turns that energy into rotation; Farm Sathi uses a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), which is efficient across the low speeds a tractor spends most of its day at. The controller sits between the two and sets torque from the pedal, the remote or the autonomy computer.
Everything else a farmer knows stays familiar: a hydraulic lift and three-point linkage at the back, a PTO for powered implements, steering, brakes, tyres sized for soft soil. Farm Sathi's WB range carries a 600 kg hydraulic lift and accepts Cat-1 implements, so the rotavator, cultivator or sprayer already in the shed still fits.
Battery size and working hours
Battery capacity is quoted in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Farm Sathi's WB 820 carries a 16 kWh LFP pack and the WB 824 a 24 kWh pack. How long a charge lasts depends on the implement: light work such as spraying or hauling draws far less than a rotavator in heavy soil. The operating-time figures on the product pages are given as ranges for that reason, and the confirmed test conditions behind them are listed on each page.
A practical rule for sizing: count the hours of the heaviest job you do on one day, add a margin, and choose the pack that covers it. Charging between jobs, at lunch or overnight, extends the working day without changing the machine.
Charging on a farm
Electric tractors charge from mains power through an on-board or portable charger. A single-phase supply is enough for overnight charging of a pack this size; a three-phase supply or a higher-power charger shortens it. Farms with solar pumps already have the daytime generation to cover a large share of tractor charging.
Charging times published for the WB range are 2 to 6 hours depending on charger and state of charge; see the product page for the current figure.
Running cost and maintenance
An electric motor has one moving part; a diesel engine has hundreds. There is no engine oil, no fuel filter, no injector service and no clutch plate to replace. Routine care becomes tyres, brakes, hydraulic oil, greasing and keeping the battery within its recommended charge window.
Energy cost per hour is set by your electricity tariff rather than the diesel price. Because the exact saving depends on the job, the tariff and the hours worked, ask for a calculation for your own farm rather than relying on a single headline number.
Where an electric tractor fits best
- Orchards and vineyards: narrow rows, frequent spraying and mowing, short distances between jobs and the charging point.
- Horticulture and polyhouse farms: quiet, fume-free operation near workers and crops.
- Small and medium farms up to a few tens of acres, where a 20–24 HP class machine does most of the work.
- Farms with solar generation, where daytime charging is close to free.
Questions to ask before buying any electric tractor
- Battery chemistry and warranty in cycles and years.
- Hydraulic lift capacity and hitch category, so your implements fit.
- PTO availability and speed for powered implements.
- Charging time and the supply it needs.
- Service and spares: where the nearest trained technician is.
- Whether the machine can later be upgraded to GPS auto steering or autonomous operation.
Published 24 October 2026 · Farm Sathi. Product figures are from the Farm Sathi product pages; values marked as awaiting confirmation there apply here too.