Agrifac introduces new electric drive platform for self-propelled sprayers

Agrifac is introducing a new drive platform for the current generation of self-propelled crop sprayers, making the same machine available in a diesel-electric, hybrid or fully electric configuration. The concept is built around a fully electric drivetrain. How the required electrical energy is generated and stored can be tailored to the application and to the available infrastructure. The technical set-up also leaves room to adopt other energy sources in future, as soon as these become technically and economically suitable for agricultural machinery.

Lower emissions while maintaining usability

With the new drive platform, Agrifac is responding to changing market demands, stricter emissions regulations and the rapid development of battery and energy technology. The focus is not on one specific energy source, but on an electric drive that can be supplied with energy in a variety of ways.

The diesel-electric configuration is expected to reduce fuel consumption by around 35%. With the hybrid configuration, the saving rises to approximately 50%. In both cases the sprayer remains fully usable. External charging is possible with the hybrid configuration, but not essential. The fully electric configuration enables local zero-emission operation. This variant is particularly attractive for applications where sufficient charging capacity is available and daily operations fit within the battery capacity.

Smooth and comfortable operation

In addition to lower fuel consumption and lower emissions, the electric drivetrain also offers benefits for the operator. The direct and even power delivery produces smoother machine movements, thereby improving driving and operating comfort. And because the energy supply can be chosen independently of the electric drive, Agrifac can tailor the concept to a wide range of applications, markets and customer needs.

Prepared for different routes to sustainability

“The transition to a more sustainable drive system does not take the same course in every market or for every customer. With this platform, we are developing a single electric base to which different forms of energy supply can be applied. This allows the customer to choose a solution that suits their operations, without us losing sight of the machine’s usability,” says Friso Berkhout, Systems Innovation Engineer at Agrifac.

The drive platform will be further developed, tested and validated over the coming period. Based on the current development schedule, Agrifac aims to deliver a first machine featuring this drive concept in 2027. The exact configuration and the timing of the market launch will depend on the results of further field testing and on the needs of customers and markets. With this development, Agrifac is taking an important step towards low-emission and future-proof self-propelled crop sprayers.