All Irish tractors will eventually be electric, the Tánaiste has predicted during his trip to Africa after climbing aboard the first Irish electric tractor ever built.
The 40hp Ox-4 has been developed by Regenerators Ltd, a firm co-founded by Dubliner David Moore and UCD-educated Girma Moges.
The lightweight beast will be rolled out to Ethiopian farms, where only 1pc are mechanised, the rest still using oxen to plough.
Ethiopia’s electricity is 98pc hydro-generated, meaning a kilowatt hour costs only a single euro cent – which in turn means an electric tractor can be run for 90pc less than one reliant on traditional fossil fuels, as all Irish tractors are.
Furthermore the electric tractor will be sold for only €25,000 (the battery costs half the retail price, but can recharge in four hours), compared to over €100,000 for a standard tractor here.
“Over time, electric will be the future, of that there is no doubt,” Mr Martin said in Hawassa, Ethiopia, agreeing that all Irish tractors will eventually be electric.
“It is only a matter of time, and we must continue to invest in research and development to make it happen. That’s the key to it.”
The development of the tractor has been grant-aided by Ireland through the Universities of Limerick and Hawassa sharing knowledge and expertise.
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