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Battery Electric Tractors: Small-Scale Organic Growers’ Preferences, Perceptions, and Concerns

Author

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  • Douglas L. Bessette

    (Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48843, USA)

  • Daniel C. Brainard

    (Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48843, USA)

  • Ajit K. Srivastava

    (Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48843, USA)

  • Woongkul Lee

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48843, USA)

  • Sarah Geurkink

    (Student Organic Farm, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48843, USA)

Abstract

Battery electric tractors (BETs) demonstrate considerable advantages over diesel-fueled tractors, including higher conversion efficiency, higher torque, less maintenance, and no tailpipe emissions. Converting to BETs also requires tradeoffs in the form of the batteries’ high cost, increased weight, limited energy capacity, finite charging cycles, and lengthy charging time. The extent to which small-scale organic vegetable, fruit and cut-flower growers are aware of these tradeoffs is unknown. Little research exists examining these growers’ perceptions, concerns, and willingness to pay for or adopt BETs. Here, we address that gap by conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews with 14 organic growers in the US Midwest, most operating in Michigan. We focus our questions on growers’ motivations, existing tractor-use patterns, and the evaluation of different configurations of a belly-mount open-station cultivating BET. Our results suggest interest in and potential for growers to transition to BETs, including an estimated willingness to pay 14 percent more for a BET compared to a diesel-fueled alternative. This premium is driven by most growers’ preferences for reduced noise, fumes, fuel, and greenhouse gases, as well as beliefs about BETs ultimately being a more sustainable long-term option than diesel-fueled tractors. Growers also identify significant concerns and uncertainty about the long-term performance, maintenance, storage, cost, safety, and weight of the tractors’ battery systems. While growers linked some environmental values and motivations to their interest in BETs, altruistic value signaling was absent, and growers focused considerably more on financial and instrumental concerns and motivations for BET adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas L. Bessette & Daniel C. Brainard & Ajit K. Srivastava & Woongkul Lee & Sarah Geurkink, 2022. "Battery Electric Tractors: Small-Scale Organic Growers’ Preferences, Perceptions, and Concerns," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:22:p:8648-:d:976431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacek Caban & Jarosław Seńko & Piotr Ignaciuk, 2024. "Laboratory Tests of Electrical Parameters of the Start-Up Process of Single-Cylinder Diesel Engines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Michels, Marius & Bonke, Vanessa & Wever, Hendrik & Musshoff, Oliver, 2024. "Understanding farmers' intention to buy alternative fuel tractors in German agriculture applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

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