Electric BCS 730e first tests with subsoiler / ripper
Channel: Reid Allaway
Date: 2022-03-06

It's been several years since I converted our farm's BCS 730GX11 tractor into a 730e with electric motor and modular, swappable lithium-ion batteries.  We've been really happy with the electric BCS and we've started acquiring more tools for it, the latest of which is this single-tooth subsoiler/ripper.

The purpose of such a tool is to mechanically loosen deeper soil horizons and alleviate compaction.  In our case the goal is to eliminate broadforking in our greenhouses.  Here's a video report of the first day of trials without wheel weights or the larger tires we might end up installing to improve performance.  I also haven't yet added wings to the subsoiler but I expect to do so once we've got the big wheels and wheel weights installed.

Interestingly, this is not a big power demand compared to rototiller or power harrow - it's just a traction challenge.  The motor is only delivering 600-800W to pull the undercutter in 2nd gear.  More traction will allow us to push this further but in 1st gear the motor is running under 400W!