According to Cellestial, the tractors will cost less to run than comparable conventionally-powered tractors. The price is expected to be between US $ 7,570 and US $ 10,090. The company presented the tractors recently during an expo for electric vehicles in Bengaluru. The e-tractors are engineered to be used in the field, in horticulture or in greenhouses.
Celestial E-Mobility plans to offer electric tractors in three models; a 27 HP tractor, a 35 HP tractor and a 55 HP tractor. The machines are equipped with an Indian residential power socket for charging. The e-tractors can cover up to 75 km on a single charge and can reach a speed of up to 25 kms per hour. The tractors have PTO, hydraulics and 4-wheel drive.
Battery fast-charge
The battery can be swapped. Charging the battery with a residential charger at a conventional single-phase 16 Amps outlet, takes six hours. With industrial charging infrastructure, the battery can fast-charge in two hours flat. The tractors also feature regenerative braking and power inversion, which will allow them to power a UPS for back-up power.
Co-founder Siddhartha Durairajan of Cellestial E-Mobility expects that central and state government policies will help to sell e-tractors in India. “There is an eagerness to introduce electric vehicles, with green policies and subsidies”, Mr Durairajan said in Indian media.
E-tractors to Mexico
The company also plans to export tractors to Mexico, where it has a partnership with company Grupo Marvelsa. Mr Durairajan said that Cellestial has a target to sell 4,000 e-tractors in the Mexican market over the next 3 years. “Our foray into the Mexico market will open doors to tap into the profitable North American Markets”, he emphasised.
Development electric tractors
Cellestial is a subsidiary of Tube Investments of India (TII), a Murugappa Group company. It first began operations in May 2019. The founding team consists of Durairajan, Syed Mubasheer Ali and Midhun Kumar.
Other companies in India, including VST Tillers Tractors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Sonalika International Tractors, are also planning to develop electric tractors.
