Hibra Design, a Cork-based specialist vehicle design engineering company, plans to showcase a groundbreaking innovation at this year’s Ploughing Championships, in the shape of a John Deere agricultural tractor that has been re-engineered from diesel to full battery-electric power.
The tractor design which was commissioned by Bord Na Móna (BNM), is the first fully operational full-size agricultural tractor in Ireland and one of the few in the world. It has been designed specifically for the extreme conditions of Irish boglands, the vehicle offers more than 400Nm of torque, a 55kWh battery providing up to 2.5 hours of continuous operation, and a rapid 1-hour recharge capability.
The electric tractor is a versatile workhorse, supporting BNM in bogland rewetting, sphagnum moss planting, and even functioning as a mobile energy source for battery-powered drones. Unlike the popular electric conversions of classic cars, this project required the full integration of the electric powertrain with the tractor’s complex computer control systems, 4WD transmission, PTO, and hydraulic capabilities, a testament to Hibra Design’s advanced engineering expertise. The project was completed over 13 months, including 9 months of design and engineering and 4 months of intensive build and testing.
Mike Keane, Founder of Hibra Design, commented: “This tractor project exemplifies our competencies at Hibra Design—engineering complex vehicles to meet the specific needs of our clients, while pushing the boundaries of clean technology in practical, high-performance applications.”
Founded in 2022, Hibra Design provides the full spectrum of vehicle engineering services in Ireland, from bespoke vehicle development to re-engineering existing vehicles with clean-technology powertrain systems. In less than three years, the company has secured public and private-sector projects across Ireland, the EU, the Middle East, and South Africa, earning multiple industry awards, including Electric Vehicle Pioneer of the Year 2025 and the Product and Manufacturing Gold Award at the 2024 National Start-Up Awards.
Hibra Design’s multidisciplinary team brings experience from Formula 1, automotive, and aerospace industries and in their Cork design office and worskhop, have developed solutions for road vehicles, off-highway vehicles, marine, and aircraft projects.
Their in-team capabilities range across mechanical, electrical, controls systems, dynamic and thermodynamic engineering; supported by HDS (Hibra Design System), a proprietary vehicle analysis software which offers clients rapid assessment of technical and cost feasibility for bespoke vehicle development solutions.
The vehicle will be launched for the first time to the public in the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena, Stand 228, at the Ploughing Championship 2025.
