New 27 hp electric tractor can work for weeks in the sun while recharging itself

Ohio-based GoSun and India’s Moonrider co-developed the Moonrider 27, an all-electric solar utility tractor designed for small-scale farming and property management. Electric tractors have long struggled to gain market traction due to high costs and heavy batteries. Running out of charge in a wide field remains a major concern for farm owners. However, a shift is underway in agricultural technology. Overhead solar charging offers a practical solution to these persistent range issues. GoSun believes it has solved the key challenge: stop requiring farmers to plug the tractor in, and let the sun supply the power instead. Work in the sunshine Today’s small farms and property managers face rising diesel prices, strict emission standards, and thin operating margins, making the GoSun solar tractor a timely solution. The newly unveiled Moonrider 27 All-Electric Solar Tractor attempts to solve the range-anxiety problem by mounting a 1.1 kW solar array directly overhead. The canopy continuously charges a 24 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack as the machine sits in the field, turning daylight directly into extra field time. For hobby farmers and property managers who only use a tractor for a couple of hours at a time, it could be a great investment. Park it in the sun between chores, and the tractor might go weeks or even months without touching a charging cable or visiting a diesel pump. Underneath the solar roof sits a serious utility vehicle. It pairs a 20 kW (~27 hp) electric motor with four-wheel drive and immediate low-end torque. Plus, it includes a standard 540 rpm rear mechanical power take-off (PTO) and a three-point hitch. That single feature allows buyers to hook up the mowers, tillers, and post-hole diggers they already own, avoiding thousands of dollars in proprietary attachments. Cut the diesel Built for rugged field work, the GoSun All-Electric Tractor replaces noisy combustion engines and carbon emissions with silent operation and instant low-end electric torque. Starting at $19,995, the Moonrider 27 is priced competitively against standard diesel sub-compacts while promising virtually zero maintenance and zero fuel costs. “Small-scale farming and property management have relied on noisy, costly diesel utility vehicles for far too long,” Patrick Sherwin, founder and CEO of GoSun, told Electrek. “With our new All-Electric Tractor, we are empowering farmers and land managers to literally work in the sunshine – reducing operational costs while protecting the soil and air.” GoSun estimates users will save roughly $15,000 over five years compared to diesel models due to eliminated fuel costs, zero engine oil changes, and significantly reduced mechanical maintenance. Deliveries for the GoSun All-Electric Solar Tractor begin in early 2027, with pre-orders now open on GoSun’s website. It won’t replace a 300-horsepower industrial combine on a thousand-acre corn farm. But for small-scale growers and homesteaders tired of smelly exhaust, loud engines, and rising fuel prices, GoSun’s work in the sunshine pitch might finally give electric tractors the field advantage they needed. In the future, it would combine environmental sustainability with financial practicality, offering small-scale agriculture an affordable path away from fossil fuels. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.