Design load analysis for electrification of a 55-kW agricultural tractor based on workload

This study aimed to determine and analyze the design loads required for the electrification of a 55‑kW agricultural tractor through field experiments. A measurement system was installed to record data from the engine, driving axles, power take‑off (PTO), and hydraulic pump during plow tillage, rotary tillage, and driving operation in a silt loam paddy field. The study specifically focused on power requirement analysis, load duration distribution (LDD), and rainflow counting (RFC)-based load spectrum generation for durability assessment of the electric tractor powertrain. Plow tillage imposed the highest loads, with total power peaking at 52.6 kW (95% of rated power) dominated by axle torque, while rotary tillage was PTO‑driven and driving operation showed low average loads with intermittent traction peaks. Compared with a previously studied 78‑kW tractor, the 55‑kW tractor exhibited lower overall power requirement and a more traction‑balanced distribution, while hydraulic requirements remained minimal. LDD and RFC analyses revealed that a few load cases and low‑amplitude cycles dominate the operating profile, and critical high‑load cycles occur primarily during tillage. These findings provide essential design data for electric powertrain components and establish a systematic measurement‑to‑spectrum methodology for deriving design loads for agricultural machinery, supporting the future development of utility electric tractors and durability‑driven powertrain design.