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Electric-Powered Garden Tractor
I was walking down the aisles at the recent Sunbelt Ag Expo near Moultrie, Ga., when I spotted a crowd surrounding a locally-manufactured electric-powered garden tractor equipped with a front-end loader. It’s called the Yard Machine, and it’s designed to handle a wide variety of chores.
    Three 12-volt batteries power the rear-steered tractor. A fourth 12-volt battery supplies an auxiliary power outlet on back that can be used to operate power tools. The tractor comes with a front-mount 3-pt. hitch that can be used to operate a 42-in. mower deck fitted with an electric motor, a rake, or a scraper blade. A snowblower and posthole digger are in development.
    The front-end loader, equipped with a 42-in. bucket, is optional. It has a lift capacity of 200 lbs. and will lift up to 72 in. high, with a dump clearance of 48 in. Two electric-operated actuator cylinders are used to raise and lower the loader, one to operate the 3-pt. hitch, and one to tilt the loader bucket.
    “It’s a versatile tractor that works great for lightweight loader work, cutting grass, scraping, digging, and mowing. It’s nice to operate because it’s quiet and there are no gas fumes,” says Calvin Bowie, Tri Tech Equipment, Selma, Ala. “It takes 8 hrs. to charge the battery, and you can mow up to 3/4 of an acre of grass or do up to 3 hrs. of chore work, before recharging, which costs just 47 cents.”    
    According to Bowie, the auxiliary power outlet on back works great for operating 120-volt power tools such as impact wrenches, drills, power saws, and hedge trimmers.
    The company says it plans to begin selling both electric and gas-powered versions of the tractor in mid 2013. “The gas-powered unit is built heavier and intended for commercial uses such as landscaping, cleaning horse stalls and chicken houses, and light construction work,” notes Bowie.
    The basic electric Yard Machine is expected to sell for $6,200; the loader for $2,200; the mower for $1,400; the rake for $260, and the scraper blade for $125.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tri Tech Equipment, 112 Hwy. 80 E., Selma, Ala. 36701 (ph 334 872-1650; tigerinnovations@yahoo.com).


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2012 - Volume #36, Issue #6