The City of Berkeley, California, has taken a significant step towards achieving its goal of transitioning to a zero-emission off-road equipment and vehicle fleet by 2035. In a groundbreaking move, Berkeley has become the first city to take delivery of a 70 horsepower Monarch MK-V electric tractor, signaling a shift towards sustainable farming practices.
This development comes at a challenging time for the electric farm tractor industry, with Solectrac, a California-based company, facing setbacks, including being evicted from their Sonoma County R&D facility. Additionally, some agricultural equipment dealers have expressed reservations about Solectrac, citing the preference for a 75 horsepower tractor.
Monarch’s MK-V electric tractor offers 70 all-electric horsepower, boasting impressive instant torque. This feature has garnered attention from both business and public sector customers, with the City of Berkeley leading the way. Melissa Marizette-Green, Senior Landscape Gardener Supervisor at the City of Berkeley Parks Division, highlighted the decision to choose the Monarch tractor, stating that it met their operational needs unlike another electric tractor they had considered.
The City of Berkeley was able to leverage California’s Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) incentive program to purchase the Monarch MK-V at a significant discount, making its price comparable to that of a similar-sized diesel tractor while offering reduced operating costs.
Production of the Monarch MK-V is underway at the Lordstown factory in Ohio, owned by Foxconn. The tractor offers a runtime of up to 14 hours, swappable li-ion battery technology, compatibility with industry-standard implements, and a range of autonomous features.
With the City of Berkeley leading by example, the adoption of zero-emission off-road equipment is gaining momentum, setting a positive precedent for sustainable practices in agriculture and beyond.
