Volkswagen’s Electric Tractor Rolls Out in Africa

Volkswagen (VW) has begun developing a new electric tractor at its facility in Gashora, Rwanda, with the aim of making farming cleaner, quieter, and more appealing to younger workers who value sustainability and are accustomed to modern technology.

VW’s Electric Farm Tractor

VW’s new electric farm tractor is powered by a 20 kW motor (equivalent to about 27 hp) and a 32 kWh swappable battery that will reduce downtime—when one runs out of juice, it’s simply swapped with a charged battery that can be accessed at dedicated hubs.

This new tractor will be compact, yet as powerful as traditional models—the difference being the drastically reduced emissions and operational costs. It’s a perfect fit for rural Africa in areas where both electricity and fuel can be hard to come by.

GenFarm Project

Launched in partnership with the Rwandan government and organizations like the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture and GIZ, a German development agency, VW’s GenFarm Project is designed to create a “holistic ecosystem” of electric-powered farming services.

In addition to the electric tractors, the initiative includes the development of other tools to help farmers increase productivity in an eco-friendly way, such as reliable transport solutions for people and goods in rural areas.

VW’s Gashora Facility

The GenFarm project is based in VW’s multifunctional facility in Gashora, 60km from Kigali. As well as the production of these new tractors, the facility will serve as a testing ground for modern farming techniques that are specifically tailored to the local area and its challenges.

VW already plans to expand the facility in 2025 with “Empowerment Hubs”, solar-powered centers that will offer clean energy, training, storage, and business spaces for farming associations.

Reception of Electric Tractors

Electric tractors are still new to the farming world, but reception is mixed. Globally, interest in electric farm equipment is growing but, while farmers seem to like the idea of quiet, emission-free machinery, adoption has been slower in some countries, like the U.S.

In 2012, Californian electric tractor company Solectrac was launched but, after a promising start, shut down for business earlier this year. In rural areas in Africa, however, these tractors address specific farming challenges, like fuel shortages and high operating costs, so are expected to have a lot more success.

Image Credit: Volkswagen South Africa