The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Renewables => Topic started by: Norfolk Newby on March 02, 2012, 02:39:11 pm
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I have attached a link to an article on electric tractors. It is largely theoretical. There aren't any electric tractors at present as far as I am aware and I would dispute some of the figures the article quotes.
However...
The article does give comparable figures on the acreage needed to support a working horse, to produce bio-diesel for a small tractor and other alternative so might be of interest to anyone looking at their options when considering - say - growing rape to produce oil to run their small holding (canola = oil seed rape).
http://old.globalpublicmedia.com/the_case_for_the_electric_tractor (http://old.globalpublicmedia.com/the_case_for_the_electric_tractor)
I haven't studied it but the parent web site may contain other articles relevant to a low carbon life style.
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Think you may find NN that the lowest carbon tractor would be steam powered with a wood fueled boiler. I would expect that modern technology could dramatically reduce the weight in comparison to the original cast iron versions. No worries about battery life or replacement cost either. Simple to maintain with low tech parts.
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or even
12.5 hp Engine on wood gas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra3tx--X8fs#)
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Nice Ideas!
Of course steam engines were used quite extensively in the Victorian era. They were like the traction engines used to drive country fairs and haul wagons. The had a big winch fitted underneath the boiler which pulled a sort of chariot which carried the plough and an operator and was hauled backwards and forwards across the field to plough it.
Steam engines - because of their used of low pressure steam - are only about 10% efficient. But if the fuel is cheap and readily available, that doesn't matter. Any dry waste from farming - including old bedding for animals - would do.
The gas powered lawnmower goes back to the second world war when cars were converted to run on coal gas. The gas went in in a sort of balloon fixed onto the roof of the car. Today lots of car run on compressed gas - LPG - and do so very efficiently. There are experimental cars around running on liquefied methane and hydrogen is a promising fuel for the future. All a bit high-tech for our use, I think.
Going back to the steam engine idea, I have been wondering about making one with a high pressure boiler. This would operate with a turbocharger which can now be found in almost any car scrapyard. The idea is to use it to pressurise the air entering the boiler. The escaping hot air then drives it. This may not seem much of an idea. However, it was developed commercially under the name of Velox Boiler. Have a look in Google for details. The key factor is that the boiler can then be much smaller meaning the car or other machine can have more power without getting a silly size. Fuel such as gas, oil or powdered coal can be used. just a daydream!
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.... but there is an electric quad bike that we've been looking at... http://www.gemelectriccars.co.uk/quadriga-electric-quad-bike.php (http://www.gemelectriccars.co.uk/quadriga-electric-quad-bike.php) Keeping fingers crossed for lottery win as always!!!!!
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that is not much more than a new honda :farmer: