Re: Solar Electric Farmall Anyone?

Posted by Bob M on March 10, 2007 at 17:03:22 from (69.205.124.61):

In Reply to: Re: Solar Electric Farmall Anyone? posted by gene (missouri) on March 10, 2007 at 15:40:28:

I agree 100% - that video is pretty much bunk.

Notice the "work" the tractor is performing - pulling a rake slowly thru light hay on a hard, level field - about the lightest work any tractor will ever see.

Let's look at it from an engineering perspective: To achieve the Farmall 100's rated 18 PTO horsepower (per Nebraska tractor test #537) I calculate it would require solar cell array costing around $175,000 at current prices. And the solar array would occupy roughly 1,700 square feet.

Further the tractor would develop full power only around noon on a cloudless day.

Bottom line a solar tractor MIGHT perhaps become competitive when gas exceeds something like $100/gallon. Until then it's just a mildly interesting "fluff" story on the evening news.

Replies:

• Re: Solar Electric Farmall Anyone? scotty 18:10:35 03/10/07 (1)
  • Re: Solar Electric Farmall Anyone? Bob M 18:36:10 03/10/07 (0)

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