Revolutionizing Rural Lives: The Tractor Inverter
As the founder of Su-kam, I was always seeking innovative solutions for rural communities challenges. A pivotal moment came during a meeting with Mr. Rohtas Mal, then Managing Director of Escorts. Mr Mal proposed a groundbreaking idea: a tractor inverter that could be mounted on existing tractors powered by their own batteries. This ingenious concept offered a practical and sustainable solution to the persistent power shortages plaguing rural areas.
Intrigued by the potential impact, I assembled a specialized team of engineers. The inverter had to be efficient and robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions of rural environments. Collaborating closely with Escorts Tractors, we developed a product that could seamlessly integrate with their existing models.
The result was a revolutionary tractor inverter, IP67 compliant for protection against water and dust. By connecting the tractor’s battery, farmers could access reliable power for their homes and fields, even in remote locations. This project was started in our Research and Development, and two engineers worked on it for almost six months to make it a workable model, as many changes were required during trials. What challenges we thought about and what came out practically were different. Handling the battery in various conditions was the major challenge, so the battery life was not compromised, and the back time from the inverter was also achieved.
The tractor inverter became a game-changer for rural households. Farmers could now use their tractors to power lights, fans, and other essential appliances in their homes, improving their quality of life. In their fields, the inverter enabled them to operate irrigation pumps and other agricultural equipment, boosting productivity and crop yields. The impact was profound, as it provided a reliable and affordable power source for communities that had previously struggled with frequent blackouts and limited access to electricity.” We developed one model initially, and the two models were in waiting; we sold more than 2000 pieces, and they worked well for Escort’s one of the tractor models.
Key additions:
- Benefit: The Inverter fitted in the Tractor helped the farmer connect his household when he was back home to get power without adding any additional Inverter battery or Generator. As everything was fitted into his tractor itself, he was to just plug in a wire in a designated plug area.
- Impact on productivity: Farmers had small fans and lights to run on the fields at night, or sometimes they needed fans to rest and eat lunch, and there was ready power in their tractors, as power was a big challenge in the farming sector at that time.
- Improved quality of life: The money-savings and ease of having a power backup at home and in the field make them confident in having a 24-hour power backup.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!