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This study aims to design, develop, and evaluate the traction performance of an electric all-wheel-drive (AWD) tractor based on the power transmission and electric systems. The power transmission system includes the electric motor, helical gear reducer, planetary gear reducer, and tires. The electric system consists of a battery pack and charging system. An engine-generator and charger are installed to supply electric energy in emergency situations. The load measurement system consists of analog (current) and digital (battery voltage and rotational speed of the electric motor) components using a controller area network (CAN) bus. A traction test of the electric AWD tractor was performed towing a test vehicle. The output torques of the tractor motors during the traction test were calculated using the current and torque curves provided by the motor manufacturer. The agricultural work performance is verified by comparing the torque and rpm (T–N) curve of the motor with the reduction ratio applied. The traction is calculated using torque and specifications of the wheel, and traction performance is evaluated using tractive efficiency (TE) and dynamic ratio (DR). The results suggest a direction for the improvement of the electric drive system in agricultural research by comparison with the conventional tractor through the analysis of the agricultural performance and traction performance of the electric AWD tractor.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the tillage depth effect on the tractor-moldboard plow systems in various soil environments and tillage depths using a field load measurement system. A field load measurement system can measure the engine load, draft force, travel speed, wheel axle load, and tillage depth in real-time. In addition, measurement tests of soil properties in the soil layer were preceded to analyze the effect of field environments. The presented results show that moldboard plow at the same tillage depth had a wide range of influences on the tractor’s working load and performance under various environments. As the draft force due to soil–tool interaction occurred in the range of 5.6–17.7 kN depending on the field environment, the overall mean engine torque and rear axle torque were up to 2.14 times and 1.67 times higher in hard and clayey soil, respectively, than in soft soil environments. In addition, the results showed tractive efficiency of 0.56–0.73 and were analyzed to have a lugging ability of 67.8% with a 44% maximum torque rise. The engine power requirement in hardpan was similar within 3.6–9.6%, but the power demand of the rear axle differed by up to 18.4%.

This study was conducted to ensure gear durability and design optimal transmission of agricultural tractors. A field test was conducted using an 86 kW agricultural tractor for plow and rotary tillage, which are typical agricultural operations. The field test was completed after about 107 h due to transmission noise and operational problems. As a result of disassembling the transmission, it was found that the range shift A and B gears were damaged. In the case of the range shift A gear, it was judged that plastic deformation occurred due to low contact stress, and the bending stress was low, therefore gear tooth breakage occurred in the range shift B gear. In order to ensure the durability of the transmission, four materials of alloy steel for machine structural use, such as SCr420, SNCM220, SCM822, and SNC815, were selected, and the safety factor and service life according to the gear materials were compared using simulation software. As a result of simulation analysis, SCM822 satisfied the target life value and was selected as a material for change. The damaged range shift A and B gears were changed to SCM822, and an axle dynamometer test was performed for the verification of the modified transmission. After conducting the axle dynamometer test, the transmission was disassembled, and it was confirmed that the range shift A and B gears were in normal condition. Therefore, it was considered that the durability of the transmission was ensured by satisfying the target life requirements of the gears. In the future, the transmission simulation model for 86 kW class agricultural tractor is expected to be utilized for the development of tractor transmissions, cost reduction, and optimal design.

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