17 January 2023
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Show demonstrates what electric off-road machines can offer growers.
AS the debate rages on about whether electric vehicles are going to be financially sustainable in the current energy climate, and the UK Government unveils its Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan aimed at addressing costs associated with charging them, manufacturers are forging ahead with the production of electric vehicles for off-road and on-road purposes.
All of this will be put under the microscope at the forthcoming Low Carbon Agriculture Show next month.
The all-electric Scottish Munro MK1 electric utility truck and The world’s first commercial all-electric compact tractor, the FT25G, imported by Reesink Agriculture, will be amongst the low emission vehicles on show on February 7th and 8th.
The four-wheel drive off-road Munro MK1 was launched in December and Munro says it is the world’s first ‘capable’ electric 4x4 vehicle, in the event’s ‘Low Emission Vehicles (LEV) Expo’ exhibition.
The agent showcasing the Munro MK1, Off-Road Electric’s director, Marc Monserrat, says that demos will be available from March onwards.
With more low emission vehicles becoming standard on UK farms, the event will explore how growers can become key players in the generation, storage and supply of renewable transport electricity and fuel in rural areas, as well as supplying decentralised power networks.
The Low Emission Vehicles Expo will feature the latest innovations in low emission agricultural machinery, including battery and biofuel-powered vehicles, opportunities in rural charging infrastructure, and renewable energy with an exhibition and a dedicated conference session.
Industry experts speaking in the LEV conference session, sponsored by Osprey Charging Network, and chaired by Andy Eastlake, CEO of Zemo Partnership, will look at how we are progressing with UK transport decarbonisation targets, the opportunities this transition offers landowners.
Andy Eastlake says: “With Government’s commitment to end the sale of all emitting on-road vehicles by 2040 now in place, attention is already moving to the off-highway and mobile machinery market for initiatives to eliminate emissions from this sector too.
“Farmers and others involved in agriculture will need to learn from and embrace innovations in technology – like the Munro MK1 – and in fuels and operations, to play their part in the Net Zero transition. Zemo is glad to be a supporter of the LCA show, enabling collaboration across industries to help find the optimal solutions for vehicles and machinery in this vital sector.”
Speakers in the LEV conference session include:
• Jake Warwick, climate change policy advisor at the Department for Transport, will present on ‘Transitioning to a zero-emission transport sector’
• Nick McCarthy, technical specialist at Cenex, will discuss ‘Decarbonising agricultural vehicles and fuels – a look at the alternative fuel options’
• Jake Goldby, senior business development manager at Osprey Charging Network, will outline the opportunity of ‘Becoming part of the rapid EV charging network.’
Osprey Charging Network will be looking for freehold and leasehold land to expand its driver-recommended rapid charging network, and JCB will showcase and offer test drives of its LEVs, including the JCB 525-60E Agri Loadall and 35-22E Teletruk.
Held in partnership with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Low Carbon Agriculture show incorporates four expos including: ‘Environmental Business Expo’, ‘Farm Technology Expo’, ‘Energy Now Expo’ and ‘Low Emission Vehicles Expo.’
To learn more and book your free ticket for the show, go to our events page here.
