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Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

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Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#571

Post by Toutouxc »

edm0nd wrote: post #334
arein3 wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For tools electric is the answer. To take a chainsaw, the battery needs to be replaced just as often as with refilling the fuel tank. And with newer batteries you might recharge the depleted one as fast as discharging a fresh one. Not sure, just an assumption. The future for tools is electric 100%.

my brother in Christ, electric chainsaws are garbage, have you ever used one? I tried one out to clear a huge 3 foot wide tree that fell on my property and yeah those things cannot hang with gas powered chainsaws in any way, shape, or form. No one is using electric chainsaws for cutting anything significant. they may have a place in the distant future but in 2026, aint no way.

I haven't used a chainsaw in a few years, but the last time I did, electric ones with a cord were great. I switched from a proper Stihl chainsaw to a budget electric one with a cord, and despite it being smaller and sort of flimsy, it did cut like crazy, comparable to the gas chainsaw. And it didn't require ear protection, didn't annoy the neighbors and didn't make you smell like a chainsaw for two days.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#572

Post by DesiLurker »

We need a 'Framework (as in laptop maker) for physical devices'. Basically most of this physical tech can be relatively easily recreated with current tech and 3D printing. In fact probably better done with electric motors and batteries. There is definitly a moat there to be disrupted.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#573

Post by samiv »

slow_typist wrote: post #534
VorpalWay wrote: post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why was the clutch so heavy? Did it serve some purpose or was it just due to the limitations of the technology at the time? I have certainly driven cars with lighter and heavier clutches (I live in EU, automatics weren't popular until recently and are still far from ubiquitous) but I couldn't tell you why every model just doesn't get a light clutch for comfort. A diesel Subaru I drove had a particularly heavy clutch…

I once changed a broken release bearing of a truck. It was a relatively simple repair but the very heavy gearbox has to be taken out to do this - which is problematic especially if done on a yard without proper equipment. Since then I always pop into neutral when standing at a traffic light. It is interesting how many people in manual driving cultures think there would be no wear and tear if they press the pedal down…

As a motorcyclist stopped at the traffic light I always keep the gear on and clutch pulled in. Why? Because I have to be ready to take off when the moron driver on the phone behind me fails to stop.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#574

Post by Cthulhu_ »

stego-tech wrote: post #503

I've been musing with friends that this is a growing and untapped market. Not merely for analog-only tractors or heavy machinery, but for stripped-down/basic machinery in general. EVs eschewing the myriad of sensors and driver assists that talk back to the cloud in favor of cruise control, local cameras, and a double-din slot for aftermarket head units; cars built for simplicity of ownership and maintenance rather th…

I can only applaud it, however the challenge will be to make it meet modern standards / requirements for things like emissions and safety.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#575

Post by Pikamander2 »

pera wrote: post #557
Hasz wrote: post #20

I think this is a reaction to the incredibly locked down ecosystem that most of these mfgs are pushing. However, the tech exists for a reason and is not inherently bad, the issue is the lock-in, the lack of choice and interoperability. IMO, there is plenty of space for an OEM who can play nice with others, offer an open (and vibrant ecosystem), and keep users coming back by choice, not by lock-in.

I don't know anything about tractors but our modern world is full of useless and inherently bad "tech" that only exists for the flashy factor. People are just tired of being mislead and abused by corporations, which is why there is now a market for non-tech products.

The best analogy that I can think of is cruise control on a car.

Do you need it? No. Is it nice to have? Yes.

The strict "no tech" premise of these tractors feels comparable to someone disabling the cruise control feature on their own car because they read an article about BMW locking heated seats behind a subscription.

I don't know much about tractors, but I would think that surely there are some modern benefits that these Ursa tractors are missing out?

However, the article claims that they're selling really well, so maybe at that price point the tradeoffs are still worth it.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#576

Post by worthless-trash »

fsckboy wrote: post #485
Ancapistani wrote: post #434

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without going too far into the weeds here, IMO this experience is representative of gun rights, zoning, and all sorts of other differences between urban and rural. Rural kids are put into situations where they are expected to rely fully on themselves, with life-or-death consequences, from a young age. When your pre-teen is driving a machine on their own that could easily kill them or those around them, giving them a…

> Rural kids are put into situations where they are expected to rely fully on themselves, with life-or-death consequences, from a young age. come to the city, farm boy, and we'll give you a corner you can sling the brown from and we see how you do. we find something fo yo daughters to do too* *i have absolutely no street smarts, country or city, but I do watch Law & Order and know how to pound a nail and know what to…

Ah yes, encouraging people into shitty situations, the hallmarks of city life.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#577

Post by Toutouxc »

discordance wrote: post #517
numpad0 wrote: post #449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who says this never even consider Nissan Leaf. "Because the charging..." or whatever. So consumers DO want all-touchscreen disposable cars like Tesla - it's similar to how disposable phones had replaced phones with removable batteries(even among IP rated phones). Wallets vote strongly against consumers.

I would have considered a Leaf but they have NMC batteries. Also, the earlier versions had terrible battery cooling issues. Give me a Leaf with an LFP and I would buy one.

There are many different NMC battery chemistries, and they are still evolving. It's likely that whatever you think would be a problem (because NMC) wouldn't actually be a problem for you. But yes, the first two generations of the Leaf weren't exactly great EVs and there's a lot of FUD and missing based just on the Leaf.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#578

Post by exchemist »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #343
npongratz wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The PTO shaft is a spindle on the back of the tractor which drives things like your flail mower, wood chipper, etc. ... and kills/maims anyone with lose clothing trying to step over it!

Oh, god yes. I mowed using a Farmall H on a family farm when I was about 12 y/o. I don't remember ever having deadly serious conversations with family members up to that point in my life. All four grandparents, aunts and uncles-- it seemed like everybody-- sat me down, looked me dead in the eye, and told me sternly and bluntly "you turn off the PTO and see the shaft isn't turning before you get off the tractor. Every…

I have never driven a tractor, but clearly remember our headmaster giving us this exact lecture when I was about 8. This in a town of 20,000 people where I expect not even 2% of the kids would even visit a farm outside of an organised trip, but clearly an important enough message to be worth broadcasting.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#579

Post by sl-1 »

fchicken wrote: post #482

Tech will consume itself. It is with glee that I will watch it burn.

Sadly it will also burn other stuff around. If it would only eat itself, I would watch with glee. But when it eats the life-sphere and our lifesupport before, I feel less gleeful

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#580

Post by sl-1 »

childintime wrote: post #203

Wait? No electric tractors yet? Swappable batteries would be perfect.

The energy balance just does not work with current agricultural paradigm. For example, plowing is really energy intensive and electric tractors just can't carry the required amount of batteries. Too heavy tractors compact the earth and sink in bad weather conditions.

For electrification to really proceed in ag, we need a revolution in the paradigm, something that removes most of the energy heavy processes.

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