For our mobile hydraulics focus on the agriculture market, Fluid Power World spoke with Vinicius Povineli, Mobile electronics/connectivity product manager, Bosch Rexroth, to learn how electrification is impacting ag machinery today and tomorrow.
FPW: How are hybrid and electric innovations impacting the agriculture industry and where do you see any challenges arising in the future?
Povineli: From my perspective, hybrid and electric technologies are already making a noticeable impact in agriculture by improving fuel efficiency, reducing emissions, and opening the door for more precise, intelligent machine control. These solutions align well with the industry’s growing push for sustainability and automation. However, challenges remain — particularly in infrastructure — such as charging availability in remote or rural areas, and in justifying ROI for farmers who operate in cost-sensitive environments. Battery technology is improving, but energy density and runtime under heavy-duty use are still limiting factors for full electrification of larger machines.
FPW: How are electronic control solutions, such as electrohydraulic valves and smart pumps, transforming the performance and efficiency of mobile agricultural machines?
Povineli: I’ve seen firsthand how electronic control systems, especially when integrated through platforms like Rexroth eOC and eEP, are revolutionizing mobile equipment. Electrohydraulic valves and smart pumps enable real-time, adaptive machine behavior that reduces energy loss, improves responsiveness, and supports precision farming applications. This level of control enhances both performance and fuel economy, and it also simplifies diagnostics and predictive maintenance through data collection.
In addition to performance and efficiency, electrohydraulic designs greatly improve ease of controllability. Operators can achieve smoother, more precise movements thanks to programmable logic and proportional control, which allow for fine-tuned adjustments across different functions and load conditions. This not only enhances operator comfort and accuracy in the field, but also enables automation features that reduce dependency on manual input and improve repeatability across tasks — like Bosch Rexroth Kinematic Positioning System (KPS) using our IMU sensors (MM7) to control the movements of excavator implements.
FPW: What types of machines are most impacted by these hybrid and electric solutions? Which are less likely to adopt the new technology and why?
Povineli: Smaller utility tractors, autonomous platforms, and implements with auxiliary drives are among the most impacted so far — largely because they can benefit from electrification without the same power demands as high-horsepower machines. On the other hand, large combine harvesters or 4WD tractors are slower to adopt due to the sheer energy demand and runtime requirements during peak operations. For those, hybrid solutions, such as electrified auxiliaries, are a more realistic near-term path than full battery electric.
That’s where hybrid systems play a critical transitional role. In large machines like harvesters or articulated tractors, full electrification is often impractical today due to battery size, weight, and charging logistics. However, hybrid architectures — such as using electric drives for fans, pumps, or compressors — can offload work from the engine, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions without compromising uptime. These solutions also pave the way for better load management, modularity, and future scalability as battery and charging technologies evolve.
FPW: How do electric solutions and sensor integration in mobile agriculture equipment support improved data analysis, machine output and the precision of mobile agriculture practices?
Povineli: By combining electric actuation with sensor-rich systems, like all Rexroth Bodas Platforms, especially AgDrive, we can achieve highly precise control of field operations. The real game-changer, though, is the data these systems generate. With platforms like Rexroth Bodas Connect, we’re able to collect, analyze, and act on that data remotely, optimizing machine performance and enabling predictive service which is especially valuable for fleet managers and dealers.
Sensor-rich architectures are also foundational to autonomy. Ultrasonic sensors, Radar, cameras, Collision Avoidance Systems, GNSS, IMUs, and other perception technologies allow machines to better understand their environment, respond to changing field conditions, and navigate with minimal human input. This is critical not only for full autonomy, but also for semi-autonomous functions like section control, headland turning, and variable rate application.
From a broader perspective, these IoT-enabled systems are transforming decision-making in agriculture. By capturing high-resolution operational data, farmers can make more informed choices about planting depth, fertilization rates, soil compaction, and even yield estimation. This leads to improved consistency, resource efficiency, and ultimately higher productivity across the growing cycle.
FPW: What is a barrier to adopting hybrid and electric mobile machines in the agriculture industry?
Povineli: One of the biggest barriers is still the total cost of ownership. Farmers are open to innovation, but the investment must pay off in tangible benefits — either through fuel savings, reduced downtime, or better yields. There’s also a learning curve for both operators and technicians when it comes to maintaining and troubleshooting these new systems. Training, dealer support, and clear ROI calculations will be essential for broader adoption.
Additionally, as machines become more complex with hybrid and electric technologies, farmers often face challenges when it comes to troubleshooting and repair. The increasing reliance on advanced electronics, software, and specialized components means that traditional repair methods may no longer suffice, and many farmers struggle with the inability to repair these systems themselves. This dependency on external service providers can result in longer downtimes and higher maintenance costs.
Manufacturers can help mitigate this issue by designing more reliable and user-friendly systems that are easier to diagnose and repair. Incorporating predictive maintenance tools and remote diagnostic capabilities can enable farmers to address potential issues before they become major problems. This proactive approach to maintenance can reduce the frequency and severity of breakdowns, ultimately lowering repair costs and improving overall machine uptime.
Bosch Rexroth
boschrexroth.com
