Exclusive: Silent plowing with a 160 hp fully electric tractor
A 160 hp electric battery-powered tractor with a long range. This is the promise made by French company Seederal with the production version that will be unveiled in 2026, Future Farming took the prototype for a plowing session in Brittany, the birthplace of this remarkably quiet and tough tractor.
A few months ago, Seederal unveiled its prototype electric tractor. Since then, the company has raised 11 million euros, with the aim of building a team to develop its serial tractor. With Future Farming, we went on site to get our first impressions of this farm tractor made in Brittany.
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A new architecture for the production series
Seederal’s current prototype has demonstrated the team’s potential with limited resources. Coincidentally based on a JCB tractor architecture, mainly due to the presence of its main frame, ideal for the prototyping, Arthur, Seederal’s CEO confirmed us that “a more conventional architecture, with a shorter wheelbase, will be on the version of its serial tractor”.
The production tractor, which will be revealed in 2026, will present the final characteristics and architecture. The first prototypes of this new version should be kept in the region or country as a priority, to improve product maturity before the production of a first pre-commercial series. As this first prototype, the tractor will operate with one motor for each function (one for PTO, one for hydraulics, and some for traction…).
Seederal’s next tractor version will be designed without a gearbox, but with an architecture like that of a conventional tractor, and a weight expected to be around 8T. It will be fitted with size 28 Inch tires at the front and size 38 Inch at the rear, guaranteeing good stability and grip.
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Fuel savings around €10,000 per year
Arthur, says it’s not yet possible to give a precise price range. However, he confirms that this tractor will be more expensive than a traditional model. Nevertheless, Seederal expects the price difference to be offset by fuel savings in the next few years. The aim is to ensure that the tractor’s total cost of ownership is lower than that of conventional tractors. So far, we can estimate fuel savings over a year could be around €10,000/year, based on fuel savings for a tractor consuming 20L/h, on a 500h/year basis.
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Electrification of dead weight in the front
On the current prototype, the Seederal team was limited to make something new out of something existing, on a smaller budget. This first protype can offer a range of 1 hour 30 to 2 hours with this 5-body plough. The next version, expected in 2026, will use batteries specifically developed for agriculture, which could multiplicate by 4 the tractor on-board energy, allowing to plough during 6 – 8 hours. In addition, it will be offered the possibility to exchangeable battery options to avoid unnecessary dead weight in the front of the tractor and add some more range with a plug-in capacity. Increasing the tractor’s range will also involve improving charging times, by adding a DC fast charger on the tractor, with the aim of being able to recharge the full battery pack in 2 hours.
As Arthur explains, Seederal’s goal is to be able to “handle 90% of the work on the farm”. The current prototype has already proven its ability to perform most farm tasks, and the final version will aim to maximize this efficiency while minimizing operational and environmental costs.
Driving in silence, thanks to electrification
Driving comfort is another key benefit: the electric tractor is silent, even allowing birds to be heard, and will offers a smoother driving experience. Of course, not everything is perfect yet, as this is a prototype, and there are still some noises, such as when charging, but nothing to do with a conventional tractor. Lucky that day, a Fendt 720 was ploughing right next to us with a 7-body plough, it was very impressive how noisy that one was versus the electrical tractor, even in the acceleration phase, you can watch the video for raw noise comparison.
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Develop its own cab experience
One of the main advantages of electric drive is the increased flexibility of the accelerator pedal, allowing sensitivity to be adjusted according to operational needs. This flexibility could offer greater control of the machine and improves driving comfort. Although the current machine is still in the prototyping phase, the Seederal team is determined to develop its own cab experience. This development aims to optimize ergonomics and comfort for the operator, ensuring that every aspect of the tractor meets the highest current standards and user-friendliness.
