A battery operated tiller was developed. The battery tiller was run by a 1 kW, 24 V, 1440 rpm, 49 A direct-current, series traction motor. The DC motor was energised by a 24V, 166 Ah rechargeable lead-acid battery. The power transmission sprocket-chain housing of walking type self-propelled paddy vertical conveyor reaper was used to transmit the motor power to ground wheels. A Melur (small mould board) plough was attached to the battery tiller for assessing field performance. Battery voltage, specific gravity of electrolyte, electrolyte temperature motor temperature and forward speed were measured during the field test. The battery energised the motor for 4 h duration at 50 mm depth of operation in red soil. The battery tiller had a draft of 500 N with 750 W of Rower consumption at 0.5 m/s forward speed. Effective field capacity was 2.3 x 10-2 ha/h. Wheel slip was within 5 percent. The battery required 5.4 units of electricity to get fully charged.
