1938 Solar-powered Ford Ferguson Tractor

   As we move into the second half of the short 200-year oil age, food production will become more challenging and precarious. Right now, it takes about 10 units of finite fossil energy to provide one energy unit of food to the consumer. Reverting to animals or biofuels to power the farm requires at least one-fourth of arable land just for input fuel at the farm. Other overwhelming problems are: how will food be delivered over long distances, and with what will the out-of-work urban consumers reimburse the farmer? A solar-powered tractor at least makes it possible to help with localized farming and provide additional battery storage in the off-season.

   A 70-year-old electric 9N is shown below powering a 5-foot rotary mower. This task requires 8 to 16 horsepower at two mph. One 18 kWh battery charge (equivalent to about two gallons of gasoline) is enough onboard energy to mow up to three acres in two hours. Any typical three-point cat.1 and 540 PTO implements can be used, providing the tractor hydraulics work ok.

Specifications:

   Similar to the 8N, except the electric motor drive system uses a two-inch 1.64:1 tooth belt drive. This eliminates the need for an after-market Sherman transmission to keep the electric motor rotating faster and cooler. The battery layout is the same as the 10 9C12, 12-volt batteries used on the 8N. The offset motor drive system also eliminates the need to split the tractor. One 1,500-watt PV array would recharge the battery pack in about 15 hours of direct sunlight. Multiple arrays are obviously necessary to solar power significant energy requirements like agricultural tractors. 

   The total conversion cost excluding cost of an old tractor and necessary repairs (the brakes must be perfect) would be about $6,000. The 1,200-pound battery pack will cost an additional $2,500, but the 18 kWh storage could be a substantial part of a residential system in off-season.

   For details of the conversion, consultation, and possible component supplies contact John Howe, Howe Engineering Co., howe@megalink.net. No liability for performance or injury is implied or assumed by John Howe or component suppliers for this dangerous experimental work.

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The fifth in a series of concept/test vehicles for farming or transportation