Electrification of Agricultural Machinery: Advances in Battery Technology, Powertrain Design, and Field Performance for Sustainable Farming

The electrification of agricultural machinery represents a transformative shift toward sustainable, efficient, and intelligent farming systems. This review synthesizes recent advancements in battery technologies, powertrain architectures, and energy management strategies that enable the replacement or hybridization of conventional diesel-based systems. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) chemistries currently dominate applications, while emerging solid-state and sodium-ion batteries show long-term promise. The paper examines design challenges related to thermal management, vibration resistance, soil compaction, and battery modularity for field operations. Comparative analyses of battery-electric, hybrid, and fuel-cell powertrains highlight tradeoffs in efficiency, emissions, and total cost of ownership under diverse agricultural duty cycles. Field trials indicate up to 23% improvement in energy efficiency and complete elimination of tailpipe emissions. Integration of renewable energy, on-farm microgrids, and intelligent energy management systems enhances operational resilience and sustainability. Finally, the paper identifies policy interventions, financing mechanisms, and research priorities—including second-life battery use, standardization, and circular economy models—to accelerate large-scale adoption of electrified farm machinery, particularly in developing regions.