The Life Atena project the first electric Antonio Carraro
Two years after its launch, Life Atena has produced its first fruit. The project, which, in addition to Antonio Carraro, also includes Ero GmbH, Ecothea (a startup of the Polytechnic University of Turin) and the Consortium for the Protection of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG as partners, aims to develop new technologies to improve the environmental impact of agricultural vehicles in terms of reducing polluting emissions, preventing the leakage of lubricants on the soil and reducing noise pollution. The challenge is to keep the technical performance of current tractors as unchanged as possible while exploiting the potential and flexibility offered by electrification.
The SRe represents the first official result of the Life Atena project and follows the presentation of the two SRX Hybrid and eSP prototypes at EIMA 2022. The SRe is an even more ambitious project given that it is a compact, isodiametric, reversible and articulated fully-electric model. Keeping the articulated ActioTM frame, a common feature of all Antonio Carraro vehicles, and the pressurized Category 4 cab equipped with air conditioning, the SRe presents itself as a completely revamped tractor, starting from the transmission. The vehicle is powered by two electric motors: the first (50 kW - 68 Hp) acts directly on the four-speed mechanical transmission, optimally controlling the speed of movement and ensuring maximum torque at all times; the second (35 kW - 48 Hp) manages the power take-off and all the machine's utilities.
The motors are powered by a 38 kWh battery pack with a voltage of 400 V, rechargeable on the household electricity system or from a column with a category 2 connection. The novelty of this tractor is that it is, for all intents and purposes, a continuously variable machine, in which the speed and power take-off are entirely managed by an electric motor, which, thanks to its high efficiency, offers performance comparable to that of a 100 Hp tractor, but with zero environmental impact.
The SRe is suitable for use with both conventional and newly developed electrified equipment. In fact, it comes with a rear lift with Category 1 and 2 three-point hitch, a 540/540E power take-off, a proportional joystick for hydraulic equipment and a power socket for electric equipment with power up to 10 kW at a voltage of 48 V.
Antonio Carraro will also be displaying the new engines at EIMA. In recent years, the research and development efforts of the Padua-based company have been directed precisely at finding solutions that would allow for maintaining compact dimensions while simultaneously increasing engine power.
The answer came thanks to the introduction of the new Fiat Power Train (FPT) F28 engines which found the solution to the new needs in the compactness of the dimensions and in the downsizing of the displacement. The F28 series is at the forefront of anti-pollution technologies and, starting from 2025, will be placed on all models of the Cento series and the R series as follows: the Sigla 8200 with the 55 kW 74.8 Hp engine – 4 cylinder turbo intercooler common rail for the (CENTO Series) and the Sigla 11200 with the 75.6 kW -103 Hp engine – 4 cylinder turbo intercooler common rail (R Series). The 11200 engine represents an absolutely remarkable result for Antonio Carraro which, for the first time in its history, is able to offer vehicles with power exceeding 100 Hp, agile, compact and compliant with Stage V regulations.
A note on the TR 5800 Infinity tractor which has definitively entered production after its debut presentation at the 2022 EIMA International event: it is a 52 Hp isodiametric vehicle, reversible with steering wheels and is available in either the “Base” version or the “Plus” version, enhanced by numerous optional features.
The innovative hydraulic system makes it possible to control every type of equipment, even those normally considered excessive for the traditional 50 Hp hydrostatic engines available on the market.
