French startup Seederal plans to launch electric tractor

The French startup Seederal announced the market launch of an electric tractor with 118 kW and an operating time of 8 to 12 hours in 2025. The vehicle can be charged within two hours and is cheaper in terms of TCO than a comparable combustion tractor. A prototype already exists.

The electric tractor from the company, which was founded in 2021, is expected to be cheaper than its combustion engine counterpart when used for 500 to 700 hours a year over a seven-year operating period. The startup admits that its electric tractor will be more expensive to purchase than a diesel tractor. However, lower energy costs and lower maintenance costs should make the electric tractor cheaper than a diesel tractor in a long-term comparison.

“Traditional manufacturers claim that you need 13 tonnes of batteries to electrify a tractor. We don’t believe that,” said Seederal co-founder Arthur Rivoal in a report by the portal Pleinchamp. Accordingly, the startup has to overcome certain resistance, as tractors have hardly ever been electrified to date and are usually powered by diesel.

However, with a weight of seven tonnes, the prototype from Seederal weighs slightly less than similar combustion tractors with an output of 160 hp (equivalent to 118 kW). “The battery and the electric drivetrain are at the heart of our expertise,” explained Seederal co-founder Arthur Rivoal. The architecture of the tractor is based on an integrated battery chassis in order to maximise the density of the battery sector.

pleinchamp.com (in French)