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Forum Index : EV's : Electric Tractors
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Revlac Guru  Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1301 |
I was curious to see what developments were available in Australia, Imported or otherwise. Saw this little beast https://curlysag.com.au/pages/cyber-clydsdale and it looked like it would be usable on a Small garden or acreage, looking closer I all ready have the same wheels and probable a usable drive axle. Then I see its local..... I haven't been out that way for years but did know a few places were offgrid so one day will drop in for a look and a chat. Cheers Aaron Off The Grid |
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| Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1301 |
Just some of the basic stuff https://equipmake.com/knowledge-base/electric-tractor-conversion/ There are some interesting conversions around, but for the most part these are good for large gardens and hobby farms, not so much the day/night non stop some farms need to do.  Cheers Aaron Off The Grid |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6577 |
Kubota have some electric tractors. There are popular with local councils in Europe. The cost of electric tractors don't make them feasible for me. I don't burn through enough diesel in a year. A pity. I will have to make do with the electric mower and chainsaw etc. I have small excavator with a crook motor. I would love to do a conversion on it. 1.5 to 2 hours running time on a charge is enough for me. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1301 |
Yeah I agree, I don't use the tractors as much as a full working farm, the cost of a conversion using new or kit parts would cost more than the Diesel the tractor used over the 20 years we had it, the most time used and most fuel/HP is for mowing long grass and weeds, most of which is to help keep a fire break and fire hazard reduction.  Plow the garden a few times uses a lot of HP, in this case its 40Hp for ripping the ground, the rest of the time is often just a quick run over with a 3PL scarifier or tidy up with a flail mower,,Easy for electric. I would work the garden more often if it (or a busted tractor) was converted to electric, as it would be better for turning over all the weeds (no weed spray) that turn up between planting, I haven't done it for the last few years and that makes for more work while crops are growing. Edited 2026-08-11 19:17 by Revlac Cheers Aaron Off The Grid |
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Chopperp Guru Joined: 03/01/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1131 |
Well my little old Howard 2000 garden tractor has been sitting out in the yard for a good while waiting for me to get it's engine going. (It got booted out of my shed cos there is too much other junk in there). I can't really be bothered of getting it going and neither Mrs Chopperp or myself really like petrol or diesel stuff anyway. Too smelly & you have to go & get the stuff. Plus running petrol stuff around the yard requires all windows & doors being shut & no washing on the lines. Anyway, after reading some of the above, I thought the 2000 may be a good candidate to put a electric motor in it. It wouldn't get used for much anyway. It is belt driven from the motor to the side of the gearbox so my need an idler shaft or something. I had a quick look on Amazon & found a 48V, 2kW brushless motor & controller for <$200. I do have an unused 48V 50Ah LiFePO4 which would give a half an hour or so running around. The 50Ah does limit the size of the motor I can put into it. At present, the tractor has water in its rear tyres & 3 wheel weights bolted to each of the rear wheels as well. Getting rid of the water & the weights would lighten it a bit, as would removing the engine but the battery would add a bit. (want some weights Aaron?) My 48V Ryobi 30" ride on mower has a 1kW drive motor & that can pull quite a bit when it has traction so I'm thinking 2kW with the aid of the existing gearbox, a tractor conversion would work OK. I'm awaiting on some more info on the advertsed motor before I make a decision or look for a nother one. I also have a 36V electric line trimmer and a 36V chainsaw. I can't use my petrol chain saw because of my pacemaker. Can't (or not supposed to) use my welder either. I'm beinging to wish I hadn't read this thread as I am now further side tracked from other things I need to do, one of which is cleaning out the shed which I would have to do anyway to work on the tractor..... Sorry for the ramblings. Brian Edited 2026-08-12 23:19 by Chopperp ChopperP |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6577 |
Snap! Also have the Ryobi mower. Chainsaw, pole saw, trimmer etc are all Husqvarna 36V Pacemaker prohibits petrol chainsaw and welder. Welder is the biggest problem. I have a 90V treadmill motor that might come in handy for the excavator. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1301 |
Hi Brian, Yeah the Howard 2000 would be a great candidate for conversion as you have the battery already and the 48v motor is fairly cheap, will have to check the shaft some of those have 2 flats cut in to the shaft, some may have a key-way cut in, not sure if the weights are required most often lighter is better for garden soil, grass etc. It would make a nice little unit to tow the trailer and other things perhaps, looks like fun.  We couldn't use heavy tractors at our last place sink and bog all the time. Have an old Atlas 1602 Excavator, its a bit tired and an electric conversion would be ok if it was just for crane duty not digging, keep the EX100/5 for the other jobs, it has lifted all the solar arrays onto mounts already even one with 8 panels bolted in place, The AI (Auto Idle( was handy, now that was fun.  Edited 2026-08-13 08:29 by Revlac Cheers Aaron Off The Grid |
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| Chopperp Guru Joined: 03/01/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1131 |
Hi, FYI. I got some info the other day on the motor/controller I was looking at. See attached pdf. One of the better replies I have received from a Vendor May be OK. Still thinking about it though. 48V 2000W Motor.pdf ChopperP |
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| Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1301 |
I have been looking at a few of these 48v motors after the OldMan had an idea for another project, (too many already) it probably will be a little tractor or something close to it. Looking at the manual (Thanks Brian) it has a T8F-11T sprocket included, much like the little one I have on the scooter that was far too small, so the shaft is H type (for lack of a better name) 8.5mm X 10mm shaft size, now these sprockets and chains are far to small and not really strong enough for the more powerful motors in my opinion.After a bit more searching some better sprockets can be found, #40 420 10T eeth Gear Sprocket for Electric Scooter ATV Go Kart Quad Dirt Bike, so its a good size 420 chain. 428 10T Motor Gear Sprocket For 428 Chain ATV Quad Bike Go Kart Electric Scooter, The 428 chains are said to be a bit better, take ya pick I guess. The sprockets are about $20 orso, Will have to check other gear ratios etc. This place https://www.motiondynamics.com.au/ has some nice goodies as well.  Cheers Aaron Off The Grid |
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