GoSun Electric Tractor Uses Solar Roof Canopy to Recharge

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Electrical Technology

Ohio Startup Builds 27-hp Electric Tractor with 24kWh Battery that Can Work for Weeks While Recharge Itself in Sunshine

Ohio-based solar technology company GoSun has introduced the Moonrider 27, a compact all-electric tractor developed with India-based manufacturer Moonrider. The tractor is designed for small farms, homesteads, campuses, and property maintenance rather than large-scale agricultural operations.

It combines a 27-hp (20-kW) electric motor with four-wheel drive and a 24-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. According to GoSun, the tractor can provide an estimated five hours of operation on a full battery, depending on the workload and operating conditions.

The Moonrider 27 also includes a standard three-point hitch and rear power take-off (PTO), allowing it to use common tractor implements. The PTO provides 540 and 540E operating speeds, while the three-point hitch has a stated lifting capacity of 750 kg (1,653 lb).

The tractor uses a 9-forward and 3-reverse-speed gearbox, oil-immersed brakes, and a mechanical PTO system. With a weight of about 1,095 kg (2,414 lb), GoSun is positioning it as a practical compact utility tractor for mowing, tilling, hauling, property maintenance, and similar jobs.

Its main feature is an optional solar canopy rated at 1.1 kW, (1,100 watts.) The solar panels unfold above the operator and can generate electricity while the tractor is parked or working in sunlight. GoSun estimates that a day of favorable sunlight can add about 1.5 hours of operating time.

The solar system is designed as a supplemental charging source rather than a replacement for grid charging. When faster charging is needed, the tractor can be connected to a 220V AC supply, with GoSun claiming a 0-to-80% charging time of about 2.5 hours.

The solar canopy could make the tractor particularly useful for owners who operate it for only a few hours at a time. Instead of immediately plugging it in after every short job, the tractor can be parked outdoors and allowed to recover some energy from sunlight.

GoSun says occasional users could potentially operate the Moonrider 27 for days, weeks, or even months between conventional charging sessions, depending on how much the tractor is used and how much solar energy is available. This does not mean the tractor can operate continuously from its roof-mounted panels, because the 1.1-kW solar system produces far less power than the tractor’s 20-kW motor can consume under heavy work.

GoSun lists the Moonrider 27 at a starting price of $19,995 in the United States, with a $50 refundable reservation deposit. The company says the first deliveries are planned for 2027. GoSun also estimates that the electric tractor could save about $15,000 over five years compared with a conventional diesel model, based on its assumptions for fuel, oil, filters, belts, servicing, and downtime. Those ownership figures are company estimates and have not yet been independently verified through long-term real-world operation.

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