A review on the powertrains and energy management strategies of electric tractors

<p>Given the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices and energy conservation, advanced technologies for electric agricultural machinery (EAM) are critically needed. This paper provides a comprehensive review and analysis of powertrain systems and energy management strategies (EMSs) for electric tractors (ETs), a key representative of EAM. Specifically, this paper: (1) outlines the current development status and research significance of ET powertrains, including single-energy powertrains (SEPs), diesel-electric hybrid powertrains (DEHPs), and hybrid energy storage systems (HESSs); (2) offers an in-depth analysis of EMS approaches—covering rule-based, optimization-based, and learning-based strategies—and evaluates their performance in terms of energy efficiency, adaptability, and cost reduction; (3) identifies future research hotspots, such as intelligent data-driven EMSs, multi-source energy integration, and advanced energy optimization algorithms to improve the adaptability, efficiency, and reliability of ET power systems. The findings of this paper highlight the critical role of hybrid powertrains and advanced EMSs in enhancing the operational range, energy efficiency, and economic viability of ETs, offering insights and guidance for the further development of sustainable agricultural technologies.</p>