Biodiesel and electric farm machinery: a new driving force
2026. February 25.The history of agriculture has evolved over many centuries, but the real revolution in mechanisation began in the 20th century with tractors, combines and other power machines, all powered by fossil-fuel internal combustion engines. Today, the diesel engine is still the almost exclusive power source for agricultural machinery, but this too is changing.
The fight against climate change, sustainability and the rising cost of fossil fuels are increasingly turning to alternative fuels. This includes a large number of biodiesel and electric vehicles.
What is biodiesel and why is it important?
Biodiesel is a liquid biofuel produced from vegetable oils or animal fats. The process produces molecules that burn in a similar way to conventional diesel, but with significantly lower net greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel, such as the version made from rapeseed oil or used cooking oil, typically has two uses. First, as a blend with conventional diesel, for example B5-B20, which indicates the proportion of biodiesel in the blend. The other is pure biodiesel, or B100, which is used in engines that can handle the different properties of biofuel.
Its main advantage is that it can be compatible with most existing machines, without the need for drastic engine modifications. For many farms, it is therefore the first step in replacing fossil fuels. In fact, in many places they can produce biodiesel or related biofuels themselves. For example, by-products from biogas plants and vegetable oils used as by-products of biogas plants can be used to produce by-products of biogas plants, which not only offer a more environmentally friendly solution, but also a locally available solution, reducing dependence on external fuels. This is also important because a significant part of the greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural machinery is caused by diesel-based propulsion. However, this cannot be drastically reduced by optimising the engine.
Electric tractors of the future
The technology for electric agricultural machinery is still in its infancy, but it is a rapidly developing sector. Instead of an internal combustion engine, one or more electric motors in electric power machines transmit the total driving power to the wheels or the implements. The consequence is that energy is felt directly from an electrical source, either from a battery or from electricity generated by other means.
Battery electric tractors work in a very similar way to the well-known electric cars. The huge batteries store energy that can then be used by the electric motors. For the same task, the electric drive is more efficient, produces less heat and is much quieter than a classic diesel engine. Not to mention the lower running costs, fewer moving parts and therefore less maintenance.
It is important to know, however, that large agricultural machines are currently short of energy and it is difficult to build a large battery with a long service life. This also means that there is no rapid recharging during work, which is not yet a solution. So it will not be the best choice for some farms.
Hybrid systems as intermediate solutions
A hybrid drive system is a combination of an internal combustion engine and electric drive. It is also similar to the solution used in the automotive industry. The main advantage of this solution is that the combustion engine produces only electricity, so it can operate optimally. In addition, electric motors are faster and more efficient than the classic versions. This system is therefore currently an intermediate solution in places where a purely electric drive is not practical for energy or economic reasons.
The future of agricultural machinery propulsion will therefore not be a single solution, but a combination of several technologies that are constantly evolving. The electrification of agricultural machinery is moving forward slowly but surely, so that in time we can have truly green machines on the farm.