Two anniversaries, vastly different and celebrated in almost opposite corners of the globe, together encapsulate the industrial paths that can credibly and practically support the energy transition—a process often hailed as the remedy to environmental woes. In Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, the eponymous industrial group marked 30 years since the advent of hybrid propulsion, a milestone introduced by the Japanese automaker through a project initiated in 1994. Meanwhile, in Bologna, Landini celebrated its 140th anniversary by advancing its feasibility studies on hybridization in agricultural machinery with two prototypes that herald new horizons for sustainable farming practices.
These two corporate journeys, though seemingly worlds apart, underscore a shared industrial pragmatism that bridges the 12,000 kilometers separating Fabbrico from Toyota. Together, they hint at what the future of private mobility and agricultural mechanization might—or perhaps must—become. On one hand, Toyota has remained steadfast for three decades in its commitment to hybrid technology, which the leadership of the world’s largest car manufacturer continues to view as the most effective means of significantly reducing harmful emissions from private mobility. Toyota even anticipated, by years, the challenges of pure electric vehicles that are now widely recognized.
Energy transition must not be a burden
On the other hand, Landini has resisted the siren call of full electric vehicles, instead opting to refine alternative solutions—namely, hybrids—that can support the energy transition without imposing excessive costs or inefficiency on the agricultural sector. This coherent and rational approach, which began with the “Rex Electra” in 2021 and “Rex4 Full Hybrid” in 2022, culminated at Eima 2024 with the unveiling of “Rex4 Energy” and “Trekker4 Energy.” The latter was a true surprise at the Bologna exhibition.
While “Rex4 Energy” was anticipated, even winning the Technical Innovation Award before the event, “Trekker4 Energy” astonished EIMA visitors with its unannounced debut and for introducing hybrid technology for the first time in the medium-power crawler segment. Landini’s engineers have taken a significant step forward by extending this solution to a strategic market segment for Italy. Their hybrid architecture is designed to power electric tools in a simple and modular way, without fundamentally altering the tractor’s base design.
Life cycle considerations in tractors
This shared system between “Rex4 Energy” and “Trekker4 Energy” has demonstrated its adaptability across various types of machinery, adjusting performance capabilities to suit different equipment categories without the need for costly, bulky battery packs or the dedicated designs required by fully electric tractors.
Environmental benefits in terms of lower emissions might seem modest compared to purely electric machines, but the full life-cycle impact of the latter—including the extraction of rare earth elements, production of components, and final disposal of battery packs—offers a more nuanced picture. By contrast, the hybrid architecture of “Rex4 Energy” and “Trekker4 Energy” features a straightforward setup: a 10-kilowatt electric generator (equivalent to about 13 horsepower) powered by a traditional internal combustion engine. In these prototypes, a four-cylinder Deutz engine with a maximum output of 75 horsepower drives the generator via a belt, which in turn powers the equipment through an inverter.
This pragmatic solution allows for decoupling the worksite’s operating speed from the engine’s rpm and the equipment’s needs. The result is reduced energy consumption, which, when calculated over a typical eight-hour workday, has a significant impact on lowering emissions—a core objective of the energy transition. Moreover, the absence of a mechanical connection between tractor and equipment eliminates the need for a power take-off (PTO), enabling sharper turning angles than those achievable with traditional tractor-equipment pairings.
The operational efficiency of “Trekker4 Energy” owes much to the updates in Landini’s “Trekker4” 2025 model year lineup, which debuted in Bologna. These five models—dubbed “4-085,” “4-095,” “4-105,” “4-110,” and “4-120”—are equipped with 2.9-liter four-cylinder Deutz engines delivering a power range of 75 to 112 horsepower. Maintenance intervals have been extended to 1,000 hours, and maximum torque ranges from 375 to 420 Newton-meters at 1,600 rpm, with 250 Newton-meters available at just 1,000 rpm. These engines provide flexible performance that minimizes reliance on a mechanical transmission synchronized across two ranges and four gears, offering 16 forward speeds and eight reverse speeds via synchronized or electrohydraulic reverse shuttles.
New Triple-Pump Hydraulics
The new triple-pump hydraulic system prioritizes equipment operation, offering 28 liters per minute for onboard services and steering, and 84 liters for up to five rear distributors and a rear hitch with a maximum capacity of 3,150 kilograms. This capacity can be increased to 4,500 kilograms with the addition of two auxiliary hydraulic cylinders.
Finally, the operator’s platform—completely suspended from the undercarriage and engine via hydro-silentblocks—ensures comfort and safety. Optional Category 4-certified cabs, suspended pedals, digital dashboards, and side control consoles combine to create an intuitive and user-friendly working environment.
Title: Landini’s “Trekker4 Energy” tracked vehicle, the prototype you don’t expect
Translation with ChatGPT
