With electric tractors, Norwegian farms increase income by 25 percent

GREEN FUTURE: Erlend Moberget is the proud owner of two Fendt electric tractors. The young agricultural entrepreneur believes it is only natural to think about the climate and environment, especially when it is precisely nature that is the source of his livelihood. 

With solar cells on the barn roof and an electric tractor in the field, young agricultural entrepreneur Erlend Moberget wants to harrow up a greener future for agriculture.

Jamieson Pothecary

Martin Thronsen

07.07.2025 09:23| Updated28.07.2025 10:12

– There are some people who are skeptical, but when I show them that electric tractors actually work excellently, their doubts disappear, says Erlend Moberget.

The 25-year-old is the owner of Agronorth AS, the world's first electric rental company for agriculture.

He means business when he goes 100 percent electric. As the owner of what is probably the first rental company in the world with only electric machines, including two electric Fendt tractors, he is already well on his way.

ELECTRIC TRACTOR: In rental driving, rented tools are used that are carried out for other clients, including farmers – and it includes everything from harrowing and plowing to mowing and plowing. Erlend Moberget challenges the myths and goes all-electric with two Fendt e107 electric tractors.

Two billion kroner and a lot of emissions saved by switching to an electric tractor

Erlend Moberget believes that an average Norwegian farm could get a 25 percent higher net income by replacing the diesel tractor with an electric tractor.

– An average farm had a profit of NOK 198,700 in 2021. If we estimate that farms spend an average of NOK 50,000 on diesel – and that is a fairly modest estimate – an average farm should be able to increase its net income by around 25 percent by switching to an electric tractor, says Moberget.

He sets up a provisional calculation where he multiplies 13 kroner per liter for tax-free diesel by 4,000 liters per year multiplied by 37,921 farms in Norway – and ends up with two billion kroner saved for Norwegian farms in total – just by replacing the tractor.

– I personally have significantly lower operating costs compared to if I had driven diesel, says Erlend.

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The choice to focus on the environment is also about job security.

– With an environmental focus, it is easier to win tenders, and we are already seeing that climate work provides financing benefits. With electric operation, I can be competitive and environmentally friendly – and at the same time be confident that I will have a job in ten years.

PAST MEETS FUTURE: – Many farmers have reduced hearing, largely due to noisy diesel tractors. With an electric tractor you protect both the environment and your hearing, says Erlend. On the left is a diesel-powered Fendt Favorit 510c, on the right an electric e107. Erlend has no doubt which one he prefers.

Battery replacement, fast charging and free electricity from the barn roof

The battery has a capacity of 100 kWh and a 700-volt system. The tractor supports AC charging at 22 kW and DC charging at 80 kW, with the option of future upgrades to higher charging speeds.

When it comes to fast charging, Erlend has several tricks up his sleeve.

– It is also prepared to have an extra battery pack in the front. That way we can change the battery in a few minutes and thus double the driving time.

– In addition, we have a mobile fast charger directly on the edge of the field, which can charge in one hour here on the farm, says Erlend.

But not only that:

– We now produce up to 20 kW per hour from 120 square meters of solar cells spread across 72 panels on the barn roof. This gives us enough energy to keep 600,000 square meters of land in order throughout the year.

SELF-SUFFICIENT: The solar panels provide Erlend with free electricity in the summer months, and cheap electricity in the winter months.

Will have a national goal of 100 percent electric by 2035

The purchase price of an electric tractor is still approximately 50 percent higher than diesel tractors, but Erlend does not believe that is a deterrent.

– For trucks, the markup is 200-300 percent. For tractors, it takes between 5,000 and 8,000 hours to earn back the extra cost in the form of diesel savings, depending on driving.

In addition to his day job, Erlend has been given a position of trust in the Østfold Electric Vehicle Association, and he has great ambitions for the electrification of agriculture.

STYLISH: – The electric tractor is very quiet and comfortable to drive – I am much less tired at the end of the day, says Erlend.

– I would like the Electric Vehicle Association to set a national goal that 50 percent of new sales of tractors under 150 hp should be electric by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035. He also believes that support schemes for electric tractors should be improved.

– If the tractor received the same amount of support per kilo of CO2 as a truck, it would have been cheaper to buy than a diesel tractor. Now there is zero support. If we had 10 percent of the purchase price, it would have helped enormously.

Erlend sees electric tractors as a safe investment.

– For me, anything else is out of the question.