Setting A Lap Record: We Took Our Electric Tractor to Highlands Motorsport Park!

Well, we can officially tick “take the orchard tractor for a hot lap” off the bucket list.

Last Thursday, our fully electric Monarch MK-V tractor — straight from the rows of cherry trees at Forest Lodge Orchard — made history at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. Yep, the same track known for supercars, speed demons, and the occasional Liam Lawson lap record (his stands at 1:23, by the way). Our mission was to prove a point — that electric farming tech is here, it works, and it can absolutely handle the heat… even if that heat is an 8-minute, 24-second lap time.

Why take a tractor to a racetrack?

Because why not? Also because it’s 2025, and electric tractors like our Monarch MK-V are changing the game for farming. This beast is New Zealand’s first fully electric, driver-optional tractor — and the first Monarch to ever leave the US.

We’ve been using it at Forest Lodge for the past three years, and it’s replaced over 10,000L of diesel and saved us nearly $14,000 in fuel. It costs just $2 an hour to run, charges off our solar, and pulls just as much weight as any 75–80hp diesel machine. Plus, it doesn’t cough up fumes or make your ears ring.

A lap for the history books (or at least our scrapbook)

Our orchard manager Euan drove the Monarch the 40km round trip from our orchard to the track, before handing it over to one of Highlands’ pro drivers for the official lap. At 8 minutes and 24 seconds, it may not have rivalled an F1 car, but it definitely stole the show.

Huge thanks to the team at Highlands!

The absolute legends at Highlands Motorsport Park welcomed us with open arms (and a finish line). They even let us line up a “drag race” between the Monarch and one of their speed machines — we’ll let you guess who won.

We’re incredibly grateful for local businesses that back innovation and aren’t afraid to have a bit of fun along the way. Thanks for the hospitality Highlands — we’ll be back for round 2!

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