Small Farm Electric Tractors (Electric Vehicles Land, Sea & Air USA 2012)

Mr Stephen Heckeroth,

SolTrac

United States

Mar 28, 2012.

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Presentation Summary

Why small farm tractors are ideal candidates for electric propulsion.
Pros and cons of AC and DC propulsion systems.
Pros and cons of lead acid and lithium batteries.
Strategies for improving efficiency and run time between charges.

Speaker Biography (Stephen Heckeroth)

Steve Heckeroth has the ability to quickly analyses the space required for every element of a particular application and make the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing package possible. His ability has been confirmed by numerous awards for his building and vehicle designs.

He has designed and built more then two dozen electric vehicles including 11 full function electric small farm tractors. He holds a patent for battery exchange in electric tractors and is consulting with several manufactures to facilitate the mass production of small farm electric tractors.

Company Profile (SolTrac)

Steve Heckeroth's concern about the increasing cost and pollution caused by

combustion vehicles dates back to the first Earth Day in 1970 when he fully understood the folly of fueling our entire economy from finite energy resources.

In 1990 encouraged by the California Zero Emission Program he started building electric vehicles. At the time lead acid batteries were the only cost effective way to store energy the energy needed to power electric vehicles. The weight of lead acid batteries was a very limiting factor in the range and function of electric cars. However because battery weight could be used to enhance traction in tractors Heckeroth focused his efforts on the production of small farm electric tractors.

Over the last 20 years he has built prototypes for Ford/New Holland, Agricultural Colleges, and other companies in Holland, Japan, India and Brazil. He currently uses 6 electric tractor prototypes on his homestead in Northern California and is consulting with major tractor manufactures.

SolTrac will be exhibiting an

electric tractor

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