Feature

Powering the next generation of agricultural machinery

The agricultural equipment industry is entering a period of transformation. Faced with a push for increased electrification and automation, manufacturers are rethinking how power is delivered, controlled, and monitored across every aspect of modern machinery.

02/02/2026 11:51:57

From compact vineyard robots to hybrid tractors, the off-highway sector is rapidly adopting smarter, cleaner technologies designed to improve everything from efficiency to sustainability.

Electrification and hybridisation
Electrification is one of the major trends in the off-highway market. While full battery-electric systems are gaining traction in smaller autonomous platforms, hybridisation is increasingly viewed as the practical next step for larger agricultural vehicles. By coupling a downsized diesel engine with electric drives or generators, OEMs can reduce fuel consumption, emissions and noise, without having to compromise on effective power delivery.

“Hybrid systems are allowing manufacturers to get more out of their existing architectures,” explains Peter Mills, Global Market Sales Director at Regal Rexnord.

“By integrating electric drives for auxiliary functions, you can downsize the engine, reduce hydraulic demand, and make the system more efficient across the board.”

Read the full article in DPA's February 2026 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.