Kubota Branching Out with New EV Battery Production

With most, if not all, vehicle manufacturers, including companies that produce farm equipment such as Kubota turning to electric power instead of combustion power, the race for better batteries continues. Kubota is jumping in with their new technology and will start manufacturing a material that increases battery performance. You can now find more than new and used tractors from this innovative company, and they have a good reason for expanding their horizons.

A New Revenue Stream

Kubota recently developed the technology needed to mass-produce a material called titanium niobium oxide. What is this you may be wondering? It is an alternative to graphite, which is an anode needed in lithium-ion batteries. Until now, there was no substitute for graphite, but Kubota is changing this. They plan on spending over seven million dollars to begin production of the material at their Amagasaki site.
There is a very good reason Kubota is delving into the EV battery market. They are looking to develop a new income stream because the demand for the water pipes the company has been manufacturing since the early 1900s is diminishing due to a declining population.

Kubota Is Going Electric Too

Kubota, like many other companies, is working to reduce emissions to help the environment. Tractors and farm equipment traditionally use gas to power their engines, but as part of the electrification strategy in North America, Kubota is working to develop a battery-powered electric RTV. It will be fully chargeable and have the capabilities and features that people expect from a Kubota.
The first electric RTV will not only maintain the same level of productivity as the gas-powered new and used tractors that are currently working on job sites, but it will also reduce carbon emissions, be much quieter, produce less odor, and reduce operator vibration.

Other Breakthroughs in EV Battery Technology

Kubota is not the only company working toward better EV battery technology. Around the world, researchers are working toward making batteries last longer. One solution may be lithium-air batteries that use a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid. This technology may be able to significantly increase energy density and give electric cars longer range. It may also make EVs safer than the liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries because they are less likely to overheat and catch on fire. Lithium-air batteries are capable of achieving the chemical reaction needed to charge a motor at room temperature.
Research and testing is still being done on lithium-air batteries, but researchers are hopeful that the technology could eventually make it to the market.

Kubota on the Cutting Edge of EV Battery Technology

The technology to power electric vehicles continues to change, and Kubota plans to be a big part of it. The material they will produce will help EV batteries charge faster and make them last longer between charges. Production starts in 2024, with plans to produce over 110,000 pounds per month, but it’s just the beginning. They plan to increase production by five times this in the next five years.