In the heart of Spain, a revolution is brewing in the fields, and it’s electric. Voltrac, a startup founded in 2024, is developing a fully electric, autonomous tractor designed to transform both agricultural practices and logistics operations. The company has already begun field testing on Spanish farms, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable and efficient future for farming.
Voltrac’s innovative tractor is a departure from traditional designs. It features individual wheel motors and no conventional transmission, utilizing a direct-drive system that eliminates the need for a gearbox. This design results in 70% fewer moving parts, significantly reducing maintenance requirements and minimizing energy loss during operation. The tractor is powered by swappable 200 kWh battery packs, which can last up to 20 hours under normal workloads. The batteries can be exchanged using a forklift or telehandler, ensuring near-continuous operation—a game-changer for time-sensitive agricultural tasks.
The tractor’s modular platform is designed to adapt to various tasks. It can be equipped with a standard three-point hitch or a flatbed frame, making it suitable for a range of fieldwork tasks as well as internal transport, such as during harvest or logistics on large farms and estates. This versatility is a significant advantage for farmers, who often need to switch between different tasks throughout the growing season.
Voltrac’s autonomous system is still under active development, but it promises to be a significant leap forward in agricultural technology. The tractor is equipped with cameras and sensors, allowing it to drive itself. The goal is to create a system that learns from previous tasks, minimizing the need for pre-programming. By collecting operational data such as soil moisture, crop type, and yield data, the tractor can automatically adapt operations like spraying, fertilization, or cultivation. This level of automation could revolutionize precision agriculture, making it more accessible and efficient.
The tractor’s control system is open-source, allowing third-party manufacturers or farmers to integrate implements, sensors, or software. This openness could foster a new ecosystem of agricultural technologies, with Voltrac at its core. The technical specifications of the prototype, expected in 2025, include four 20 kW wheel motors, a run time of 8 to 20 hours depending on the task, and a payload capacity of 4,000 kg. The tractor is designed for low maintenance, with motors that can be replaced with just 8 bolts and 2 cables, and it promises 20% lower annual running costs compared to conventional 80 kW tractors.
Voltrac was founded by Francisco Infante and Thomas Hubregtsen, who recently raised €2 million in seed funding from European investors including FoodLabs and Antler. The startup is now testing a working prototype in cooperation with Aguirre Agricola, a Spanish manufacturer of agricultural equipment. The first commercial units are expected to become available in 2026, with a focus on specialty crops, orchards, vineyards, and small- to mid-scale arable farms.
But Voltrac’s ambitions don’t stop at agriculture. The company is also exploring defense-related applications. Thanks to its modular, quiet, and fully electric design, the tractor can be deployed in high-risk areas for supply and logistics missions. Voltrac is in discussions with NATO partners regarding future deployment in frontline logistics, highlighting the potential of this technology beyond the farm.
The implications of Voltrac’s innovation are vast. For farmers, it promises increased efficiency, reduced costs, and a smaller environmental footprint. For the agricultural technology sector, it opens up new possibilities for integration and innovation. And for the defense sector, it offers a quiet, efficient solution for logistics in challenging environments. As Voltrac continues to develop and test its technology, the future of farming and logistics looks increasingly electric and autonomous.