EVs have been getting a fair bit of attention recently in the news. Most of us are sceptical about how useful they can be for the tough conditions on New Zealand farms, where reliability and brute strength are essential.

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However, there are some practical (and some not so practical) electric solutions that are working today. In this issue, we’re going to have a look at some of them.

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Some of the advantages of a more electric future…

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It’s easy to get caught up in the negative side of EVs and other new electric technology, but there are some undeniable advantages.

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First off, EVs tend to require less maintenance. EVs have far fewer moving parts than conventional vehicles, and that means there’s far less that can go wrong. An ICE engine has over 2000 moving parts, whereas an electric vehicle has about 20. 

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While that’s good for any potential EV buyer, it really matters for farmers. When you’re out on the farm, the less sh*t that can go wrong, the better. Equipment breaking down, especially during busy seasons, can be a nightmare. Since EVs have fewer moving parts, they can be more reliable. The costs that could be saved by avoiding downtimes and maintenance have to be considered when looking at the upside of EVs in farming. 

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There are also the saved fuel costs. It’s easy to burn through a lot of fuel with utes and bikes, that’s a given, so a practical EV can help lower running costs. In the bigger picture, having our farming industry be less dependent on fuel would be a smart move. As the war in Ukraine has shown, the world oil supply is vulnerable to disruptions, so some more diversification can’t be a bad thing.

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There are a few examples of EVs and electric technology already making a big impact in our agriculture industry. 

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2X2 ADVENTURE BIKE

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 Photo Credit: UBCO 

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New Zealand based UBCO is attracting attention on the global stage

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One company that’s leading the way in innovation with electric vehicles is UBCO. They’ve developed an electric bike that’s ideal for riding around on the farm or out in nature, as well as quick trips on the road.

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It’s got a top speed of 50km/h, a 6-hour charge, and can carry gear as well. Back in 2022, the company secured a deal with a US bike company for 1500 bikes, proving that larger investors see the value of this type of vehicle.  

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One of the appeals of the 2x2 bike is how quiet it is. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but think about it… if you’re going on the farm, you’re less likely to spook animals and more likely to hear alerts or animals otherwise drowned out by a grunty two-stroke.

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The company is raising money through the funding source Snowball. They’re hoping to build sizeable markets throughout the US, the UK and the rest of Europe. 

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There is a demand out there for innovative kiwi products like this. What works on our farms can often work just as well (with minor adaptations) on farms worldwide. The UBCO 2x2 bike is just one example of the advancements being made in practical EV technology.

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Milk-E by Fonterra

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 Photo Credit: Fonterra

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Fonterra taking a first step with the electric milk tanker MILK-E

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Another innovation in the EV space that’s been attracting a lot of attention recently is Fonterra’s EV milk tanker called MILK-E. It is a step towards the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s heavy transport.

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MILK-E is about the size of a regular tanker and has a range of 140km on a full charge and can carry about 25,000 litres of milk. It’s definitely the first electric tanker in New Zealand, but it might even be the first in the world.

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Right now it’s on trial, so Fonterra is tracking key performance metrics, including: 

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How easy it is to charge

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Milk collection 

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Maintenance costs

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Safety

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Driver comfort 

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And overall efficiency

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Once it’s been in use for a while, it’ll be clear how viable it will be to get more tankers like it. 

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That’s not the only electric innovation Fonterra is testing

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They’re also trailing the Polyjoule battery, the so-called “Green Battery.” The battery has been given the green light after a 10-month trial on Te Rapa Smart Farm, where it supported the dairy shed during its operation.

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The battery is made from electrically conductive polymers, an organic-based compound that has the ability to act like metal. As the batteries are non-metallic, they can be manufactured anywhere in the world and don’t depend on expensive mining operations.

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It’s believed that this sort of technology may make ‘clean’ energy like wind and solar more useful. The trouble with wind and solar energy is that they’re variable – they can’t be relied upon like fossil fuels, as wind and sun conditions change all the time. This is one reason why many experts think we can never go 100% renewable, as there will always be a need for a back-up source of energy that is always available. However, if there were more effective ways of storing energy, then that would mitigate the downside of wind, solar, and other forms of sustainable energy. 

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So the Polyjoule battery may be the practical solution that can help the worldwide energy sector move forward more confidently with wind and solar energy.

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CEO of Fonterra, Fraser Whineray, said that, “The PolyJoule battery has a remarkable discharge rate, which may ultimately link with ultra-fast charging our fleet, including Milk-E our electric milk tanker.”

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There are so many ‘green’ ideas out there that sound good in theory but are difficult to implement, whereas the Polyjoule battery is already proving it’s a viable solution.

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Because of the limitations of the technology, it won’t be replacing the battery in your smartphone or any other small device anytime soon. However, it does have a lot of potential when it comes to the electrical grid and storing power from sustainable energy sources.

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Rivian R1T 

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Photo Credit: Rivian

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Electric Utes on The Horizon? 

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While there are no major contenders to NZs favourite the Ford Ranger just yet - there are some on the horizon..

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The Rivian has been getting rave reviews, Ford have released their F150 Lightening with an immense amount of torque and innovative AWD system and smaller player LDV has the ET60 which is currently the only NZ ute that gets a clean vehicle rebate (as opposed to a tax). 

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Not saing you should make the switch - but this show's what's possible

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People can tend to fall into one of two camps – some think we should cut the use of fossil fuels as soon as possible, and underplay or ignore the practical problems, while others think that electric vehicles will never catch up.

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It’s true that you’re not likely to be replacing your John Deer anytime soon, but ‘electric’ is progressing fast. While some people might be a little ahead of the curve, it's still a curve nonetheless.

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Overall, the advancement in this technology is good news for farmers.

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It’s easy to dwell on the problems facing the agriculture industry, but the solutions to many already exist or are in development.

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The recent advancements in electric technology are offering our farmers ways to get more done for less work. Rather than being a burden that’s being forced on the agriculture industry, there are a lot of great advances that’ll actually make farmers’ lives easier. 

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All this new technology means that we can push the frontiers of what’s possible. ‘Good for the environment’ doesn’t have to be costly or ineffective, as the above examples show.

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New Zealand farmers are some of the most innovative in the world. We were the first to run electricty through a fence and maybe we'll be the first to mass adopt electric workshorses, only time will tell.

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There is still a lot of room to grow, and plenty of challenges to overcome, but we’re certain the advances in electric technology are going to help our farmers. 

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To your success,

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Jack & the Onefarm Team

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