Former Massey Ferguson executive Campbell Scott has launched a new venture that aims to help farmers escape their reliance on diesel power.
His new business, Atomictractor, aims to bring a retrofit electric drive to the market that’ll replace the internal combustion engine on existing tractors up to 135hp. He’s also developing a fully electric 25hp tractor, that takes its design cues from the Little Grey Fergie, that’ll appeal to small farmers around the world.
The replacement drive, which is being developed in conjunction with Aston University, will be hydrogen powered with a small battery back-up, and Mr Scott is seeking engineering support and funding to bring the concept to market.
“I’m keen to discuss the project with all interested parties who share my vision to deliver practical approaches to the complex problems facing the future of mobile off-road power,” he told WNIF. “Farmers are in a unique position to generate their own energy sources and this project aims to free them from diesel.”
Mr Scott added that Atomictractor’s cutting-edge solution, which has already been developed to an advanced concept level, provides a practical, highly-efficient answer to those farmers seeking to eliminate diesel costs and future-proof their energy source. The hybrid concept delivers high torque and power, plus guaranteed long working hours with minimum downtime for recharge – perfect for the long working days of the harvest or cultivation seasons.
“The precise nature of the technology remains confidential,” he said. “However, it can be described as the application of the most appropriate solutions from the low-carbon world today and their integration into the specialised field of agriculture.”
The power unit is being designed and developed in the UK, but will be suitable for global use across a wide range of power applications in agriculture. The initial focus is on retrofitting diesel-engined tractors of up to 134hp.
“There are millions of diesel-powered tractors throughout the world that have the potential to be switched to electric power,” Mr Scott said. “Diesel prices are set to increase as demand drops and refineries close down, and farmers will be keen to free themselves from that expensive and polluting fuel.”
Partners are now being sought to move the project into the prototype and commercialisation phase, and developments will continue to be undertaken in collaboration with Aston University.
“We would ideally like to partner with an existing tractor manufacturer,” Mr Scott said. “There’s a degree of engineering interface required between the new low-carbon drivetrain and the donor tractor, and this can be best provided by the tractor maker. However, I m keen to discuss the project with all interested parties who share my vision to deliver practical approaches to the complex problems facing the future of mobile off-road energy sources.”
Based in Coventry, Atomictractor aims to build on the longstanding tradition of tractor developments in the City where more than three million tractors were designed, manufactured and exported globally. Another key element in the start-up’s initiative will be a new electric-powered small tractor.
“We are taking our cue from the design principles of the famous Ferguson TE20 ‘Little Grey Fergie’ tractor, first produced in Coventry in 1946,” Mr Scott said. “Like the TE20, this new futuristic model – called the E20 – is aimed at smaller farmers all over the world who need a simple, workmate machine to carry out multiple jobs on the farm.”
