How do farmers feel about electric farm transport?
We are pleased to reveal the results of a survey of farmers who attended The Norfolk Show, The Suffolk Show, Groundswell and Cereals this year. We asked farmers their attitudes toward transitioning to electric-powered farm transport, with it set to become the go-to option in the coming years.
The motoring industry is in the middle of an electric revolution, with new and existing car manufacturers competing to dominate a market that the drive for sustainability has upended. With its unique challenges, the transition has been slower in agriculture. However, farm utility vehicles are ripe for a realignment from petrol and diesel to electric.
Electric Wheels created the survey to discover farmers’ attitudes towards transitioning to electric-powered farm transport. The questionnaire was answered by visitors to Electric Wheels’ stand at events over the summer, with one lucky farmer winning a week’s UTV hire.
Almost half (44%) of the respondents currently have a UTV, and nearly all own a diesel or petrol-powered machine. When asked about what they use their UTV for, general farm tasks was the most common answer (70%), followed by livestock and equine husbandry, then groundskeeping (12%).
Comparative Pricing
For those considering an electric UTV, the price was perceived as the main barrier to not doing so. Will believes this perception comes from the car market, where moving to electric involves a significant premium. “This is not the case with UTVs. You can take any vehicle in the Electric Wheels range, compare it against a diesel machine with a similar power output, and the prices are very comparable. You do not have to pay more to go electric.
“Some farmers who completed the survey were worried about the range, but we will always say that an electric UTV has enough range for a day’s work. If a farmer has concerns, we have a hire before you buy offer. They can hire a machine for a week to give them confidence in aspects of electric UTVs like the range, and if they then buy a machine, the cost of the week’s hire is deducted from the purchase price.” Will adds.
Running Costs
Almost two-thirds of respondents cited running costs as the most likely reason for choosing an electric UTV over a conventionally powered vehicle. This is no surprise, with the electric cost being only 10-15% of the fuel range equivalent. It is the same with maintenance costs. There is no engine, fuel tank, or filters and only a small amount of oil sealed in the transmission, so when a service takes place, much less needs maintaining.
“The residual value is an often-overlooked factor with running costs. We run a hire fleet of 170 vehicles and sometimes refresh this by selling used machines. After three years of use, our ex-hire UTVs are only losing 35% of their value. The customers that have purchased these vehicles have been pleased with them, which gives an idea of their reliability and longevity.”
Environmental Benefits
The environmental profile is also a motivating factor when transitioning to electric. Some of the first UTVs we sold into the agricultural market went onto farms practising regenerative farming, often with the help of grant funding they have secured. We are seeing more interest from conventional farms that want to improve their environmental profile or face pressure from their customers. Moving to an electric UTV is an easy way to be more sustainable without compromising performance and making considerable savings in running costs over the machine’s life,” comments Will.
When asked how much they would expect to pay for a UTV, 35% felt it should be less than £15,000, and 43% would spend up to £20,000. According to Will, these price brackets are where Electric Wheels typically receive enquiries and have UTVs to match. The lead-acid battery version of flagship model The Nipper UTV costs £13,495. However, most farmers upgrade to the Nipper Pro, which has a lithium-ion battery that increases the price to £16,995.
Electric Wheels launched in 2019 and farmers’ attitudes have change considerably. “Consideration for the environment has improved since we first started selling electric UTVs, and there is a realisation that electric is a realistic alternative. In another year or two, it will become the norm. When they sum up all the advantages, it is an obvious choice for the farmers who go electric,” Will concludes.
Take a look at the range of electric farm vehicles available to buy.
