Converted Leyland 255 powered by second-hand electric car parts
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Ben Bament, a self‑taught electronics specialist in Farmborough, Somerset, has converted a 1970s Leyland 255 tractor to battery‑electric drive using second‑hand components sourced from e‑bay, including a Nissan Leaf battery pack, a Vauxhall Corsa electric motor and an MG charger, at a total cost of about £3,000. The rust‑covered 255, purchased for £800, was chosen for its sturdy chassis, which facilitated mounting the reclaimed powertrain. Bament reverse‑engineered the motor controller software from the MG platform to suit the tractor, demonstrating that low‑cost, recycled EV parts can power agricultural machinery. After completing the build last year, he now sells similar conversion kits through his company Somerset EV while also working for Silent Classics on luxury‑car electrifications.
💡 Why It Matters
- · It proves that affordable, recycled EV components can viably replace diesel in legacy farm equipment, opening a practical pathway to decarbonise small‑scale agriculture.
