Innovative Approaches to the Modernization of Transport and Technological Machines Using Electric Drives
Abstract
This study investigates the topical issues surrounding the modernisation of transport and technological machines (TTM) through the introduction of electric drives. This process represents an important step in improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural and transport engineering. In the context of the gradual obsolescence of the technical fleet and the growing need to reduce operating costs, modernising existing machines is becoming not only economically feasible but also necessary to maintain enterprise competitiveness. Attention is given to trends in TTM electrification, which contribute to reducing environmental damage and improving production performance. Methods and Results. This paper develops and applies a three-level optimisation framework for retrofitting TTM with electric drives. Power sizing determines an economic NHopt…NHK window that minimises present (reduced) costs with an admissible (≤5%) deviation for productivity enforcement. The configuration is selected around the chosen power plant (new/used components, transmission interfacing, cooling, and DC link under 360/600 V). Operational optimisation of Vopt (field speed) and Bopt (working width) is subject to agrotechnical and slip constraints, with power balancing between tools (NB) and traction (NT). Representative case studies yield NHopt windows of 85–125 kW for heavy tillage with KA≈11 kN/m and L=600–1000 m, and 55–85 kW for cereal seeding. Typical operational solutions are Vopt≈1.7–2.1 m·s⁻¹ and Bopt≈3.0–4.2 m, while maintaining the ≤5% cost-efficiency deviation: scope and Implications. The framework formalises modernisation decisions for electrified TTMs, consolidating morphology/set-theoretic analysis with multi-level economic–energetic criteria. It outputs site-specific power, configuration, and operating parameters that align with commercial e-tractor classes while preserving compatibility with legacy chassis and implements.