State of the art of autonomous agricultural off-road vehicles driven by renewable energy systems

Achieving independence from fossil fuels and reducing emissions by increasing energy efficiency and utilizing green vehicles, such as hybrid electric vehicles and alternative green fuels, are among the main goals of energy policies globally. Although electric cars were introduced many years ago, agricultural electric vehicles have recently gained attention. Beyond emissions reductions, the benefits of agricultural electric vehicles include precise control, continuous variable speeds, and overload capability functionality. Moreover, such technology paves the way for the emergence of autonomous connected vehicles, which enhance work quality and increase operator comfort. Along with the electrification of agricultural vehicles, on-site production of renewable energy to supply their required power enhances the benefits in terms of increased efficiency and energy independence as a future-oriented approach. This paper outlines the trends in development and future perspectives of autonomous farm vehicles premised on green energies, with on-site energy production as a byproduct. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd