AG TIRE TALK KEY TAKEAWAYS

ASCENSO:“We feel that the Electric Power movement will move directly with the autonomous movement in the future in the larger tractors. As autonomy begins to pick up speed the overall tractor sizes will go smaller, and the Electric Power will be easier to adapt.”

YOKOHAMA TWS:“Electric Tractors will be used mainly in the yard, feedlots, dairy barns, and poultry areas where distances are short, recharging is available and utility size equipment is required. Vineyard use is another popular application for these tractors.”

YOKOHAMA OFF-HIGHWAY TIRES AMERICA, INC:“The fundamental challenges to tires are the same across all electric vehicles…the machines deliver very high torque almost immediately—a truly impressive amount of torque. To handle that force, we need extremely strong beads to minimize slipping, reinforced sidewalls, and extremely strong undertread and tie bar construction…”

MICHELIN:“From a tire perspective we can no longer assume that our current rubber compounds and chevron patterns will perform under the torque these electric vehicles can put down…rubber compounds within these tires will need to handle instant torque, without chipping, chunking or tearing apart.”

MAXAM:“Maxam’s Liquid Phase Mixing…enables optimum rubber mixing uniformity during raw material manufacturing…takes our products to a new level of performance and durability capable of delivering improved tire life, lower rolling resistance, and deliver the performance that the heavier electric vehicle loads will require.”

BKT:“Our Electric-Ready Agrimax Factor Tire lug orientation ensures less rolling resistance…the 5% increase in lug length contact area significantly reduces the noise level in the cab.”

Ascenso Tires North America

Annie Boyer: Marketing Manager

We (Ascenso) believe that the growth of Electric Power Vehicles in the Agricultural Tractor Segment will come first in the under 40 hp and then move up from there. This smaller segment will be the easiest to transform from a cost-effective point as well as means of use point, as these tend to be less constant use applications. We feel that the Electric Power movement will move directly with the autonomous movement in the future in the larger tractors. As autonomy begins to pick up speed the overall tractor sizes will go smaller, and the Electric Power will be easier to adapt. On board air will also be standard more and more in the future. Combines and carts will most likely be the last place for EV or autonomous use.

There really won’t be a need for the tires to change in a significant way just due to electric operation. Hybrid treads, those that are a mix of R1/R4/R3 may become more popular just from a noise, roading and a more even compaction area point. The added weight that may come with electric on small tractors will likely require wider and perhaps a little taller tires in the future. There will most likely never be one design that meets all requirements, so there will always be a variety of choices based on specific needs and this fits Ascenso’s plan to build application specific tires.

Michelin Ag

David Graden: Global Account Manager – Agriculture

We will likely see electric power adaption in <40Hp Compact and 40<100Hp Utility first, then 100+Hp Med/Large Ag many years down the road or even grow faster in the direction of natural gas and/or hydrogen powered engines. Regardless, the infrastructure for each of these is vastly different from the next, which will ultimately dictate what comes first.

When looking at <40Hp Compact and 40<100 Hp Utility tractors, the infrastructure is already there, in many cases. These machines are typically used for short periods of time and also tend to operate nearer to utilities. In fact, electrification of these machines may not cost as much as one may think, due to fewer parts needed to make them work.

From a tire perspective, however, we can no longer assume that our current rubber compounds and chevron patterns will perform under the torque these electric vehicles can put down. You see, whereas diesel/gas powered engines take time to rev up and put power to the ground, electric engine power is instant. This means, rubber compounds within these tires will need to handle instant torque, as well, without chipping, chunking or tearing apart. Hybrid tread designs will help, but unfortunately, the biggest challenge is creating new rubber compounds that perform under instant torque without giving up something else, like tractive capacity, floatation, carrying capacity, etc.

For agricultural applications, in general, Michelin has historically been an innovation leader. We invented IF/VF tires to carry more load and an industry leading stubble resistant rubber compound that could one day perform quite well in smaller electric machinery.

BKT USA, Inc.

Dave Paulk: Manager Field Technical Services

Although larger tractors are likely being tested, it appears the less than 40 to 100 HP market is the first seriously being looked at with utility tractors for full electrification. This market will continue to be developed and grow with new ideas. How long will it take to make these tractors where they work well and are affordable?

At some point, as electrification technology gets better and is used on larger horsepower tractors, tire manufacturers will have to adjust to meet new demands from the equipment. Tire technology now is much better thanks in part to the evolution of MFWD and 4WD tractors. The decreasing number of farmers and the distance traveled between farms has forced tire manufacturers to develop tires that ride smoother and will last longer when used on the highway. Some tractors will now go up to 45 mph. Provisions had to be made and designed to handle those speeds. As electrification advances are made and electric tractors become more common place, advances in tire technology will have to keep up with the demands of the equipment.

The industry already produces tires that will handle the weight and stress of high torque. At BKT, tires are currently tested for road noise. Since electric tractors produce little engine noise, this may become a higher priority in the future. Rolling resistance is another issue that is currently being tested. Since tractors spend so much more time on the highway, rolling resistance, ride comfort, and road noise are issues that are at the top when testing. With electric tractors, rolling resistance dictates how long battery life they will have.

To service the growing Electrification Equipment Market, BKT has developed a line of E-Ready tires: Agrimax Factor.
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The Agrimax Factor lug orientation ensures less rolling resistance. The 5% increase in lug length contact area significantly reduces the noise level in the cab. Both features lead to a greater comfort level. The tire’s braking on wet surfaces is improved. The tires’ strong polyester casing provides good lateral stability and a faster steering response when used in high-speed operations and heavy-duty service. This initial offering of E-Ready tires shows BKT’s commitment to electric mobility.

Yokohama TWS

Chris Neidert: AG Marketing, Training and Development Manager for Trelleborg & Mitas Tires – North America

I think we can all agree that (electric) battery powered tractors are going to be in some growers’ future. If you read some articles, some will say, “In addition to being cleaner and quieter, an electric tractor is much more efficient, since all the energy goes into work; whereas, in a diesel tractor, much of it is wasted as heat, in addition, maximum torque is available immediately rather than at rated engine speed. Finally, since the power source has just one moving part, they require very little maintenance. Even the batteries are projected to last 10 years, pending operating cycles and depth of discharge.”

Looking into some of the electric tractors that are now on the market, you will notice the overall tractor size and weight is not very high. The main reason is that battery power is needed to move these tractors.

With these lower weights and battery capacities, the applications are somewhat limited. These kinds of tractors will be used mainly in the yard, feedlots, dairy barns, and poultry areas where distances are short, recharging is available and utility size equipment is required. Vineyard use is another popular application for these tractors. High torque applications will be a challenge due to the potential Kilowatt (kW)/Horsepower needed as it relates to the battery size.

Rolling resistance is a concept used in the automotive industry and will be an additional factor in tires to consider on electric vehicles. Reducing the rolling resistance will extend the battery life between charges as less energy will be “wasted” in moving the tractor.

Tire manufacturers have been working on these aspects redesigning tread pattern, utilizing steel belted construction and new – more environmentally friendly (Trelleborg Blue Tire) – compounds to deliver a lower rolling resistance. This is due to the tire being stiffer which will contribute to reduced rolling resistance.

Tire tread design will be a factor in reducing rolling resistance. A less aggressive tread pattern will be used in the most suitable applications – around the yard, feedlots, dairy barns, poultry areas, vineyard etc., will be a low torque application. Therefore, the tire tread design doesn’t need to be aggressive for a high traction-grip. Looking at the below tread patterns, the one on the left is more of a multi-purpose or all-season tread pattern. Since this type of tractor is not going to be going into the field for long periods of time, the aggressive pattern on the right would not be appropriate.
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Electric tractors will be in someone’s future, it may take a while to get to the high horsepower applications, but they are here to stay.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc.

Blaine Cox: National Product Manager—Agriculture, Golf and Turf

There’s a lot of interest in electric tractors across a wide range of sizes, and we as tire manufacturers have to keep up. At Yokohama Off-Highway Tires, we’ve already seen electric equipment coming into the mining, construction, and industrial segments, so we’re building up our base of experience. What we are learning in those markets shows us how electrification will affect the farm not only in tractors, but with electric loaders, skid steers, and other equipment.

The fundamental challenges to tires are the same across all electric vehicles. The first challenge is that the machines deliver very high torque almost immediately—a truly impressive amount of torque. To handle that force, we need extremely strong beads to minimize slipping, reinforced sidewalls, and extremely strong undertread and tie bar construction to minimize the movement of lugs and tread blocks that can create cracking at the base of the lugs.

Electric vehicles also tend to be heavier than their internal combustion counterparts, so high load index is very important. There again, sidewall strength is critical, along with strong beads and the ability to dissipate heat effectively. Expect to see a lot of all-steel construction and improved compounds.

Rolling resistance will continue to be a major factor in tire design—the less rolling resistance a machine encounters, the longer it can work on a charge. It’s just like fuel efficiency in a diesel tractor. Look for high-efficiency tread designs that minimize rolling resistance as well as vibration and noise, which can affect operator comfort, machine wear, and the performance of electronic components.

Electric vehicle technology is a very exciting advance for farmers, and can bring farms to new levels of productivity, efficiency and self-sufficiency. As we have with every shift to new technology—from conventional tires to high-flotation, bias to radial to IF/VF, and new materials—we will help farmers make the most of the opportunity that electric vehicle technology will bring to the market.

Maxam Tire International

Greg Gilland: VP of Global Agriculture

Based on the observed market trends it seems evident the use of electrification or other sustainable fuels may be evolving to the below platforms in the following ways:

  • Compact and support tractors below 50 HP represent the greatest immediate opportunity for electric engines and market sustainability solutions. Most of these lower HP engines are primarily used in smaller farming operations, where compaction due to heavier wheelbase weight is less of an issue due to their role as support machinery with limited weight towing requirements. These types of lighter ag applications are less demanding as higher horsepower tractor platform market demands and therefore represent an easier platform to develop short-range or limited battery life offerings capable of evolving into higher HP applications.
  • The +50 HP up to 130 HP power range will be the true test of electric developments as these represent the largest global segment of tractors in the market. As tractors above +50 HP are used as production machinery in smaller farms less than 400 acres, dairy operations, or ranching applications, the longevity of battery life and recharging capability to deliver the utility time or productivity required to do the job will be tested. Although increased soil compaction can become a problem in farming use due to the wheelbases potentially becoming heavier, the use of VF tire technology can help offset some of the ground pressure or load requirements to reduce the pressure impact.
  • The +125 HP platforms and up to +600 HP 4WD Tractors will be the frontier of alternative fuels or energy as their mission is centered on heavy-duty farming with large fields of more than 400 acres requiring autonomy, fuel range, and power transmission to tow the heaviest pieces of support equipment. The most significant challenge to this equipment is battery life and rechargeability in a remote field application. In the short term, alternative fuels such as methane are delivering realistic and sustainable fuel solutions that consume liquid manure as a source of energy. The CNHI New Holland brand of machinery has already released two platforms in their T6 (+125 to 175 HP) and T7 (+150HP to 300 HP) tractor product offerings that is using methane as the fuel source to power their engines via the consumption of biodegradable animal waste. If battery technology improvements can be achieved, then electrification can deliver the power needed for these larger tractors.
The greatest challenge facing tire manufacturers in the quest for electrification or power sustainability solutions will be the tire weight requirements due to heavier loads and as well the power transmission or torque applied to the tires resulting in reduced tire life as proven by current electric vehicles.

MAXAM is prepared to meet these challenges with two solutions both available and in development to meet the market needs of electrification or sustainable solutions currently in demand:

Available Solutions:

VF Technology

MAXAM offers VF or very increased flexion tire technology that can carry 40% more load at standard air pressures regardless of the axle load. In most instances, the load challenge of electrification can be solved using VF tires being at standard inflation pressures and able to carry the heavier electric motors without compromising soil conditions or machine productivity. MAXAM has developed VF tires and will engineer additional sizes to meet the future need for ag equipment including tractors, harvesters, floaters, sprayers, and implements.

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Solutions in Development:

Compounding Technology

MAXAM has developed an all-new patented compound technology called liquid phase mixing, coined EcoPoint3 which enables optimum rubber mixing uniformity during raw material manufacturing. The EcoPoint3 compound marks a quantum leap in revolutionizing the performance and durability of MAXAM tires. After years of thorough research and development into high-performance rubber materials, the EcoPoint³ compound takes our products to a new level of performance and durability capable of delivering improved tire life, lower rolling resistance, and deliver the performance that the heavier electric vehicle loads will require.

Compared to conventional dry-mixed silica compounds, the EcoPoint³ process provides superior distribution of ingredients in the tire compounding. This complicated process allows products’ masterbatches to contain less filler, higher stress ratio at elongation, and minimum proportions of impurities delivering improved tire life capable of meeting the market demand for sustainability and endurance. The EcoPoint³ technology also represents a breakthrough in green and low-carbon tire development, from the selection of raw materials, manufacturing, and product life cycle, while significantly reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. MAXAM will incorporate EcoPoint³ technology into all our new product offerings, including our new industrial, construction, mining, and agricultural standard or VF products.