The LXe-261 battery-powered compact tractor is to be showcased at several key events around Europe over the coming months, before being made available for rental from 2023.

With an increasing number of European markets tightening regulations and implementing bans on diesel vehicles, many local authorities and other public bodies are actively seeking alternatives, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).

So in line with Kubota’s Environmental Vision, which it published in 2021, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, it has been researching, developing and trialling electric tractors.

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One of the major challenges of electric vehicles is range and operational time. So the new LXe-261 is equipped with a large capacity battery that can provide rapid one-hour charging and three to four hours of continuous run-time.

This means operators will be able to quickly charge batteries during lunch and continue working in the afternoon for optimal efficiency.

It also includes key 'normal' tractor features including an independent pto, HST transmission and multiple hydraulic outlets.

Its first outing will be to Europe's largest turf management show, SALTEX, at the NEC, Birmingham, in November; Salonvert, in France, and EIMA, in Italy. It will then be available for rental in the UK from April, 2023.