Meet the Honghu T70: China’s First Autonomous Electric Tractor

Honghu is the definitive answer to the technological nightmares of Western OEMs. It is often said that China holds the lead in battery cell production and dominates the race toward autonomous driving. Well, that automotive ‘long wave’ has now reached the shores of the agromechanical sector.

We already caught a glimpse of this during the last edition of Agritechnica in Hanover, where Chinese manufacturers stood side by side with the industry giants, showcasing a substantial package of innovations. Now, further emphasizing this trend toward the ‘Orientalization of electrification’ (if one can call it that) is Shiyan Guoke Honghu Technology, a local company specializing in the development and construction of agromechanical solutions.

The company, based in Hubei Province (in the country’s southeast), has unveiled the Honghu T70, effectively the first fully autonomous electric tractor developed in China. In addition to its electric drivetrain, it boasts a comprehensive digital ecosystem capable, according to the manufacturers, of meeting the 4.0 requirements of modern farms.

Honghu chose two independent electric motors

The Honghu T70 features a dual independent electric motor setup, with one system dedicated to traction and the other to powering implements via PTO, enhancing energy efficiency and load control. The autonomous tractor operates with 5G connectivity and Beidou satellite navigation for ±2.5 cm precision, utilizing LiDAR and cameras to work for 6 hours while scanning soil and crop health data for optimized agricultural management. Currently deployed in China’s Hebei province to modernize large-scale farming, the machine may potentially enter Western markets in the future.