Ireland’s first battery-electric agri tractor unveiled

Cork-based engineering firm Hibra Design, has unveiled what it says is the first battery-electric agricultural tractor in Ireland and one of the few in the world.

The electric John Deere is said to offer more than 400Nm of torque, a 55kWh battery providing up to 2.5 hours of continuous operation, and a one-hour recharge capability.

Commissioned by Bord Na Móna, Hibra Design says this once diesel-powered tractor has been designed specifically for the extreme conditions of Irish boglands.

Unlike electric conversions of classic cars, Hibra Design says this project required the full integration of the electric powertrain with the tractor’s complex computer control systems, 4WD transmission, PTO, and hydraulic capabilities.

The project was completed over 13 months, including nine months of design and engineering and four months of intensive build and testing.

The tractor is being used by Bord Na Móna in bogland rewetting, sphagnum moss planting, and even functioning as a mobile energy source for battery-powered drones.

It is set to make its public debut at the Ploughing Championship 2025.

Mike Keane, founder of Hibra Design, commented: “This tractor project exemplifies our competencies at Hibra Design — engineering complex vehicles to meet the specific needs of our clients, while pushing the boundaries of clean technology in practical, high-performance applications.”

Founded in 2022, Hibra Design provides the full spectrum of vehicle engineering services in Ireland, from bespoke vehicle development to re-engineering existing vehicles with clean-technology powertrain systems.