Land Rover Defenders can now go electrical

A ‘drop in’ kit is now available in England to convert Land Rover Defenders to full electric power. Converted Land Rovers have been tested on a farm over the past 18 months. According to reports the vehicle is quiet and nippy with improved off-road and towing performance.

Electrogenic, the maker of the system, reckons the cost can be recouped after only four years.

The conversion is said to be simple, with a low-voltage electric motor replacing the diesel engine. It is bolted to the Defender’s existing clutch bell housing and the vehicle keeps all its gears. The 120 hp and 235 Nm of torque the electric powertrain develops is said to be comparable to the original diesel engine.

An electric vacuum pump, power steering and heating are added, together with LED lighting. The 53- kWh battery pack simply lifts into the engine bay in the form of two 135 kg boxes that plug together.

A full charge provides around 160 km of on-road range; more when driving off-road or around a farm. The kit comes standard equipped for 7,5 kW AC overnight charging (quicker charging optional). The electric powertrain is designed to be maintenance-free.

“Defenders fitted with our easy to install kits do everything required of them on the farm quietly and efficiently,” comments Steve Drummond, Electrogenic Co-founder. “They are always there ready for use – just unplug and drive away; no more factoring in trips to the petrol station, and instant heat on cold frosty mornings.”

The kit will be available to ship from October 2022. (Sources: www.electrogenic.co.uk, www.ProAgri.co.za)

An autonomous future winks

AgXeed, a Dutch start-up company, is getting important role players in the agricultural machinery world on board.

CLAAS announced it has entered into a cooperative venture with AgXeed and acquired a minority shareholding in the company’s international funding round as a mark of their commitment to technological growth. The aim is to cooperate on the development and commercialisation of autonomous agricultural machines.

A while ago Amazone also announced its financial interest in the company. The aim of the strategic partnership is to further develop Amazone mounted implements with regard to their autonomous use in the field.

The autonomous platforms from AgXeed are described by Amazone as an ideal match to its product range. The combination of minimal ground pressure, optimised weight distribution and flexible mounting zones open up new possibilities for constructing intelligent farming solutions.

The tracked AgBot has already been used successfully in conjunction with Amazone cultivation and seeding equipment. In addition to cultivation and seeding, the new four-wheeled AgBot can also be used with Schmotzer (part of the Amazone Group) hoes for mechanical weed control.

In addition, the FTender universal front hopper system for seed and fertiliser along with the FT-P for crop protection agents and liquid fertilisers, can also be combined with a range of Amazone machinery for specific applications. Various sensor systems constantly monitor and analyse the work done.

CLAAS says in its news release that the farming industry must further increase productivity in the decades ahead to meet the needs of a growing global population. For CLAAS, collaborating with and investing in AgXeed marks a logical step towards futureproof technologies.

“Our involvement provides CLAAS with access to innovative technologies in a familiar market segment, and complements our own expertise in autonomy and robotics,” explains Thomas Böck, CEO of the CLAAS Group. “In turn, AgXeed benefits from our extensive expertise and networks in many areas such as data transfer, interfaces and drivetrain solutions. This solution offers farmers and contractors concrete economic added value, and what’s more, it will soon be available.”

AgBot, together with the associated software solutions and platforms, is expected to be launched in 2022. Optional crawler tracks with belt widths from 300 to 910 mm, combined with a low maximum weight of 6 t (without ballast) makes the AgBot very soil-friendly.

The vehicle also features an adjustable track width, load-sensing hydraulics, and a linkage with a lift capacity of up to 8 tonnes. An electric PTO, independent of the engine speed, and external high-voltage connections are optionally available. The electric equipment includes all the technology required for hazard and obstacle detection, in addition to an RTK (real time kinematics) steering system.

AgBots will be launched in various sizes and performance classes. (Source: CLAAS media release, www.amazone.com)

One million Masseys made for farmers

AGCO recently celebrated the production of the one-millionth tractor at its Massey Ferguson® Beauvais plant. This significant milestone coincides with the company’s 175th anniversary. Massey Ferguson has been manufacturing tractors in Beauvais, France since November 20, 1960.

Thierry Lhotte, Vice President and Managing Director, Massey Ferguson EAME, and President of AGCO in France presented the one-millionth tractor produced in Beauvais – a brand-new MF 8S.305 Dyna-VT™ – to Thierry Aubrée, a farmer and contractor from the village of La Chapelle des Fougeretz in Brittany, France.

“On behalf of all our employees and dealers, I want to thank our customers for their steadfast trust,”

said Lhotte. The new 8S adds to Aubrée’s expanding Massey Ferguson fleet that already includes four tractors, three combines, and two large balers.

Boussad Bouaouli, Vice President, Manufacturing Beauvais, emphasized employee commitment on the Beauvais MF campus development. “From 1960, there have always been people who kept the site moving, always with the right farmer-first focus to address challenges of the times and, above all, with a clear view to the future.”

It all started with the MF 825 in From then, the site grew continuously, producing iconic tractors driven by innovation, including:

• MF 3000 Series in 1986, the first tractor with onboard electronics,
• MF 8600 in 2008, introducing the efficient power concept, which reduces environmental impact, courtesy of the first use of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology on an ag machine,
• MF 8S Series in 2020, with its award-winning Protect-U™ concept, which features a 9,4-inch gap between the cab and the engine installation, reducing heat, noise, and vibrations being transmitted to the cab and improving cooling and performance. The MF 8S Series received the Tractor of the Year 2021, Red Dot: Product Design 2021 and Farm Machine 2022 awards.

The site has seen innovative developments in recent years, and up to 100 tractors can be produced and shipped daily to dealers in more than 70 countries. (Source: www.news.agcocorp.com/news)

Case IH goes big with new flagship round baler

Designed for larger livestock farms and contractors, the new RB HD Pro is designed to produce higher density bales in a wide range of crops, from wet silage to dry straw.

Topping the company’s variable chamber round baler range, there are two models: the RB456HD Pro (1,2 m wide bales from 90 cm to 1,65 m in diameter) and RB466HD Pro (1,2 m wide but from 90 cm up to 1,9 m in diameter). Each size comes with three rotor options: a feeding rotor, 13 cutter knives or 25 cutter knives, making six models in all.

Fitted with heavy duty components and fewer moving parts, main features include a completely re-designed bale chamber and belt path, as well as strengthened and enlarged rollers, shafts, and tailgate. The more powerful gearbox and driveline is said to increase the number of bales per hour (bale size, wraps and density pressure can all be set up on same screen page in the cab).

“In some places we have simplified things to help reliability and maintenance, for example reducing the number of driveline chains and sledge rollers,”

comments Michal Jankowski, Case IH Product Marketing Manager.

Able to handle up to 30 tph, the new balers are designed to manage everything from straw and hay to haylage and silage at different cut lengths, thanks to new no-slip dual drive rollers and a wide range of knife
sets selectable from the cab. An extra-wide diameter rotor helps prevent blockages, while a new active drop floor means any that do get through can be cleared quickly.

The new balers will be available for the spring season 2023. (Source: profi)