[asadotzler]

Almost certainly it's energy density for long running, high load usage.

If a family car energy usage is 1x, then a light duty truck is about 1.5x, and a heavy duty truck doing hauling or towing is about 4x. A medium sized farm tractor would probably be 20x or more.

In that light, it's not hard to see how cars and light trucks could fare well with today's battery energy density, while heavy duty trucks are at the limits. For a tractor, it's not even close.

I do think we'll see smaller tractors going electric in about 10-15 years.

[bluGill]

For small tractors many only use them for an hour per day - often mowing the lawn once a week. I have used mine all day cutting wood - and only but 15 minutes on the engine (the rest was me running the chain saw of loading something by hand).

Which is to say an electric tractor would be great for me, but for most farmers useless.

[folmar]

Heavy duty trucks run well on electric in the EU at least, as the work time regulation make for regular charging and lower speed limits for trucks makes the consumption manageable.