Hibra Design, a Cork-based specialist vehicle design engineering company, will showcase a groundbreaking innovation at this year’s Ploughing Championships: a John Deere agricultural tractor re-engineered from diesel to full battery-electric power.
Commissioned by Bord Na Móna (BNM), this tractor is the first fully operational full-size agricultural tractor in Ireland and one of the few in the world. Designed specifically for the extreme conditions of Irish bog lands, the vehicle offers more than 400Nm of torque, a 55kWh battery providing up to 2.5 hours of continuous operation, and a rapid 1-hour recharge capability.
‘PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES’
The electric tractor is a versatile workhorse, supporting BNM in bogland rewetting, sphagnum moss planting, and even functioning as a mobile energy source for battery-powered drones. Unlike the popular electric conversions of classic cars, this project required the full integration of the electric powertrain with the tractor’s complex computer control systems, 4WD transmission, PTO, and hydraulic capabilities – a testament to Hibra Design’s advanced engineering expertise. The project was completed over 13 months, including 9 months of design and engineering and 4 months of intensive build and testing.
The vehicle will be launched for the first time to the public in the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena, Stand 228, at the Ploughing Championship 2025.
Mike Keane, founder of Hibra Design, commented: “This tractor project exemplifies our competencies at Hibra Design – engineering complex vehicles to meet the specific needs of our clients, while pushing the boundaries of clean technology in practical, high-performance applications.”
CORK-BASED
Founded in 2022, Hibra Design is a Cork-based specialist vehicle design engineering company providing bespoke vehicle development
and clean-technology engineering across multiple vehicle sectors. In less than three years, the company has secured public and private-sector projects across Ireland, the EU, the Middle East, and South Africa.
Hibra Design’s multidisciplinary team brings experience from Formula 1, automotive, and aerospace industries and in their Cork design office and worskhop, have developed solutions for road vehicles, off-highway vehicles, marine, and aircraft projects. Their in-team capabilities range across mechanical, electrical, controls systems, dynamic and thermodynamic engineering; supported by HDS (Hibra Design System), a proprietary vehicle analysis software which offers clients rapid assessment of technical and cost feasibility for bespoke vehicle development solutions.
