Agriculture has been referred to as turning of fossil fuel into food due to its overreliance on fossil fuel powered machinery and has long been associated with significant carbon emissions and environmental impacts (Mantoam, et.al, 2020). This sector has always presented an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emission and a potential to move towards sustainability. Although the adoption and use of renewables in this sector are increasing, such as the adoption of solar-powered pumps and the use of biogas fuel, the potential for e-mobility still remains largely unexploited, despite its several advantages over diesel-powered machinery (Brudermann, T. 2019).
The role of electric mobility in agriculture lies in the potential for electric vehicles (EVs) and machinery to transform farming practices, to a more sustainable and efficient way of production. Some of the advantages of e-mobility in agriculture include;
Environmental Benefits
Compared to diesel powered farm vehicles, electric mobility in agriculture is a huge stride in environmental conservation, air quality control and reduction of agricultural carbon footprint. The European Environment Agency records that EVs emit zero GHGs into the atmosphere making them very environmentally friendly and thus a stride to a sustainable way of production and combating climate change (EEA).
Cost Effective
Even though the initial investment in electric machinery may be high, the long-term operational costs are typically lower. With fewer moving parts, the maintenance costs and expenses are significantly reduced (Logtenberg, et.al, 2018). In addition to integration of renewable energy, the costs of electricity are more pocket friendly and stable than fuel prices, offering long term savings in production and transportation.
Flexibility and Adaptability
With innovations and evolving designs, Electric vehicles have been designed and adapted for specific agricultural tasks, from plowing fields to harvesting crops, to storage and even transport. Advances made in battery technology, swapping solutions are extending their range and improving their performance, making them viable alternatives in a wide range of farming operations.
Despite these significant advantages, the adoption and scale up of electric mobility in agriculture has faced several challenges. In most rural setups, charging infrastructures and battery swapping stations are few to none, the initial costs for acquiring the EVs can also not be met by local farmers, with high concerns raised over battery life and range. Introduction of innovations, government interventions thus play a crucial role in advancing the move for sustainable production. This can be done through the introduction of incentives to foster innovation and uptake by farmers, subsidies on electric mobility, funding for research and innovations and policy instruments that support electric mobility and infrastructure.
The future of agriculture productions depicts environmentally friendly, and energy efficient practices in productions, processing to transportation. This is why at E-Safiri, we have kick started the move towards zero emission from farm to market, ensuring affordable and reliable transport and storage facilities for rural farmers to ensure fresh produce reach the market through our battery swapping hubs, and cold storage solutions. The integration of electric mobility into farming practices is on the constant rise, and is paving way for a more sustainable agriculture.
References:
Brudermann, T. (2019). E-mobility in agriculture: differences in perception between experienced and non-experienced electric vehicle users. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
European Environment Agency’s (EEA) (2024) Electric Vehicles. Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/electric-vehicles.
Logtenberg, R., Pawley, J., & Saxifrage, B. (2018). Comparing fuel and maintenance costs of electric and gas-powered vehicles in Canada. 2 Degrees Institute
Mantoam, E. J., Angnes, G., Mekonnen, M. M., & Romanelli, T. L. (2020). Energy, carbon and water footprints on agricultural machinery. Biosystems Engineering, 198, 304-322