Increases in food prices that depend on fossil fuel for agricultural production are factors supporting Solectracs. Rising diesel prices make it very difficult for subsistence farmers in less developed countries to afford tractors to increase agricultural production. Solectracs with solar charging provides an affordable alternative to fossil-fueled tractors in both the short and long terms. Basing economic prosperity on the combustion of finite resources has led to rising costs as the resources are depleted and a polluted environment as they are burned. Solectrac offers a clean, cost-effective and sustainable alternative.
Solectrac' owner, Stephen Heckeroth has been designing, building and using electric tractors since 1992 and has been working in the renewable energy field since 1970.
Keith Rutledge co-founded and was co-owner of Solectrac LLC with Stephen Heckeroth until 2017 when he sold his membership interest making the Stephen Heckeroth the sole owner of Solectrac LLC.
The Solectrac will initially be marketed in regions of the US where the numbers of small organic farms are increasing and a non-polluting tractor is highly valued.