May/June 2023 - 17

LOGISTICS
 John Deere is also working to deliver more sustainable
options to customers. Photo: John Deere
Case's electric vehicle
models include the
CX15EV mini excavator.
Photo: Case.
" We are very proud of our breadth of adoption, " Penmesta
said. " Our tractor essentially can go everywhere a tractor goes,
and our current size is the most commonly used tractor size in
the tractor world. That gives us opportunities. "
Though Monarch encountered some initial skepticism, users
have been impressed with diesel fuel savings as well as increased
driver efficiency. Some operations have begun removing the
driver from the tractor seat and using that manpower to manage
two or more tractors simultaneously.
" There's been a lot of positive feedback both in terms of
power but also range. It is the same thing that we saw in the
car world, " Penmesta said.
CNH Industrial, which includes the Case and New Holland
brands, is also aboard the EV train. In December 2022, it
announced an electric tractor prototype, which will be a Case
IH-branded model powered by Monarch EV technology.
Brady Lewis, product manager for emerging products and
technology at Case, said more customers, including original
equipment manufacturers and those in the construction industry
space, are beginning to inquire about EVs.
" Some people have jobs that have specific requirements,
in contract emissions or something, where their end customer
is saying, 'I want you to be able to build this building with an
electric product or have zero emissions,' " Lewis said. " We've
also got customers that have their own sustainability goals. "
Case said users have also discovered practical benefits of
EVs. " There's some customers that are really focused on the
benefits of the machine, the performance of the machine, " Lewis
said. " The fact that it's zero noise is a huge factor. They're not
necessarily motivated by the fact that it's zero emissions. That's
a nice benefit, but they're looking for a machine that they can
operate indoors or that they can operate without impacting
the community around them. "
Case is focusing on electrifying small equipment, recently
launching two electrified mini excavators. Case has also
introduced an electrified compact wheel loader and a small
articulated loader model.
" People are surprised at the level of performance versus
a diesel machine, " Lewis said. " The machines that we have
developed are essentially the same digging performance with
attachment capabilities and the power and the feel of the
(diesel) machine - sometimes a more impressive power feel
than diesel. "
John Deere is also fielding growing customer EV interest,
Leach said, mainly from specialty or high-value crop growers
such as orchards and vineyards.
" The more a customer runs, the faster EV has a better
economic picture, because you're displacing more diesel, and
the energy right now to run a tractor is cheaper, " she said.
" Specialty crop customers run a lot. They make a lot of passes
in the field. They have this combination of technical viability
and the economics playing out very well. "
Already offering electric mowers, John Deere plans to offer
electric compact utility tractors by 2026.
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May/June 2023

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