ONOX is a German agricultural technology company developing fully electric tractors and modular swappable battery systems designed from the ground up, not converted from diesel model, for farms seeking to reduce fuel costs and CO₂ emissions.
The ONOX 1 tractor, offering 70 hp continuous and 110 hp peak power through four independent electric motors, pairs with 40 kWh swappable battery packs that double as stationary farm energy storage and integrate with on-site solar PV systems. Winner of the German Sustainability Award 2026, the company is expanding pilot projects with commercial farms across the EU.
Daniel Heily, Project Manager at ONOX, discusses the swappable battery ecosystem, farm electrification trends, and the road to commercial production.
A brief description of the company and its activities
Daniel Heily: ONOX is a German agricultural technology company that develops fully electric tractors and modular battery systems for agriculture. The company focuses on helping farms reduce operating costs, CO₂ emissions, and dependence on diesel by combining electric powertrains with swappable battery technology. ONOX designs and manufactures its products in Germany and targets farms seeking sustainable and energy-independent operations.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
D.H: ONOX’s core activities include:
- Development of fully electric agricultural tractors.
- Design and production of modular swappable battery systems.
- Energy storage solutions for farms, allowing batteries to be used both in tractors and as stationary energy storage.
- Integration of renewable energy (especially solar PV) into farm operations.
- Digital tools for calculating CO₂ savings and total cost of ownership.
What’s the news about new products/services?
D.H: The company’s main recent developments include:
- Continued development of the ONOX 1 electric tractor, which available for sale in EU.
- Expansion of the modular battery ecosystem, where battery packs can be quickly exchanged and also serve as mobile or stationary energy storage.
- Recognition through the German Sustainability Award 2026, highlighting ONOX’s innovation in sustainable agricultural machinery.
What are the ranges of products/services?
D.H: Current product portfolio includes:
- ONOX 1 electric tractor
- Approximately 70 hp continuous power (110 hp peak)
- Four electric motors
- Swappable battery system
- ISOBUS compatibility
- Modern operator cabin
- 40 kWh modular battery packs
- Tractor propulsion
- Farm energy storage
- Mobile power supply
- Renewable energy integration
- Farm energy management solutions
- CO₂ and operating cost calculation tools
- Customer consulting regarding electrification and available subsidies.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
D.H: ONOX operates in the electric agricultural machinery market.
Current market characteristics include:
- Strong interest from European farmers driven by fuel cost volatility and decarbonization policies.
- Growing government incentives for low-emission agricultural equipment.
- Adoption is currently strongest among:
- dairy farms,
- municipal operators,
- orchards,
- farms with on-site renewable energy generation.
The market remains in an early growth phase, with electric tractors representing only a small share of total tractor sales but showing strong long-term potential.
What can you tell us about market trends?
D.H: Key industry trends include:
- Increasing electrification of agricultural machinery.
- Greater integration of solar PV and battery storage on farms.
- Rising demand for lower operating costs.
- Development of modular battery systems and battery swapping.
- Expansion of precision agriculture, automation and digital connectivity.
- Growing interest in Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and farm energy management capabilities.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
D.H: ONOX differentiates itself through several innovative features:
- Fully electric tractor architecture designed from the ground up rather than converting diesel models.
- Swappable battery system enabling 24h/7 continuous operation with battery exchange.
- Batteries that function both as tractor power sources and stationary farm energy storage.
- Integration with farm renewable energy systems.
- Multiple independent electric motors that improve drivetrain efficiency.
- Modern digital interface and compatibility with ISOBUS agricultural equipment.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2026?
D.H: Reasonable expectations for H2 2026 include:
- Continued field testing and validation of the ONOX 1 prototype.
- Expansion of pilot projects with commercial farms.
- Increased customer interest driven by rising demand for lower operating costs.
- Further development of the battery ecosystem and farm energy storage solutions.
- Gradual movement toward commercial production, although widespread market adoption is likely to remain limited in the near term due to conservative purchasing behavior among farmers.
- Overall, the European electric tractor market is expected to continue growing, particularly in niche applications where predictable daily usage and access to charging infrastructure make electrification economically attractive.
