Known for its electric appliances, Cincinnati-based clean-tech company GoSun is moving into the agricultural space with an electric-powered compact tractor, developed in partnership with India-based Moonrider. The company is tapping into what it sees as a gap in the North American market, leveraging advancements in battery technology to help farmers save over the livetime of the vehicle, Patrick Sherwin, founder and CEO of GoSun, told AgNavigator.
Available to pre-order with a $50 down payment, GoSun’s Moonrider 27 electric tractor is comparably priced to other 27-horsepower diesel compact tractors at $19,995, the company shared. The tractor has four-wheel drive, standard rear power take-off, and a three-point hitch with 1,653 pounds of lift capacity, five hours of runtime, and AC charging from 0-80% in 2.5 hours.
Additionally, the tractor comes with a 220V charger and can be equipped with a 1,100-watt solar canopy that recharges the battery while in operation.
Are electric tractors catching on in North America?
The North American ag machinery market has seen relaively few electric tractor launches, including the Fendt e100 V Vario. Other North American electric tractor makers, like Solectrac and Monarch Tractor, have ceased operations, with the latter’s technology being acquired by Caterpillar.
GoSun is addressing the gap in the market with an affordable electric compact tractor that can reduce the total cost of ownership, Sherwin noted.
In addition to eliminating diesel fuel costs, the Moonrider 27 was designed with fewer moving parts, reducing maintenance and repair costs over time, Sherwin said. The company estimates five-year ownership costs of about $21,000, compared to $38,000 for a compact diesel tractor.
“There are so many more things we can do, and we are doing with electricity than with internal combustion. And so the big thing here is, of course, cost savings when you’re moving away from expensive fuel costs and lots of service maintenance issues with liquid fuels. But that’s just one side of the equation. That’s ever expanding as we have better software controls and better battery technology,” Sherwin elaborated.
Building the next-gen of electric tractors
Looking ahead, GoSun does not plan to stop with the Moonrider 27.
“We do also have our sights on larger machines. We have our sights on this onboarding of autonomy and software and sensors, so that the machine can run on its own,” Sherwin said.
“Additionally, battery technology, particularly lithium iron phosphate chemistry, will continue to improve over time, opening up new opportunities to develop additional utility vehicles, Sherwin noted.
“It’s just a matter of time. We’re moving so fast with so much capability that energy density will be something more on par with what internal combustion is,” he emphasized.
GoSun is showcasing the Moonrider 27 at the 2026 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, Sept. 1-3, at booth VITW2200.
