"Innovating a Better Future”

Steve Heckeroth and Solectrac

Steve Heckeroth dedicated his life to finding alternatives to burning fossil fuels on the first Earth Day in 1970. With a Bachelor of Architecture from Arizona State University he pioneered the design of passive solar homes and renewable energy products in the ‘70s and ‘80s. In 1990 encouraged by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Zero emission mandate, he turned his attention to transportation and started building electric vehicles of all kinds and founded MendoMotive and Electrac in ‘92. He used Porsche Spyder replica kits to build electric sports cars with a range of over 100 miles. Understanding that battery weight was a big problem for electric cars, he switched his attention to tractors that benefit from added battery weight to increase traction. He made several tractors for individuals and then received a commission to build an experimental electric tractor for Ford/New Holland in ‘95. In 1996 Heckeroth was commissioned by a Japanese company (EFRIG) to build an electric tractor that could be used to explode land mines left behind after wars. Three scratch-built prototypes were created with many new innovations like steer by wire, zero radius steering, remote control operation, the use of wheel motors, on board inverter/chargers for mobile AC power, solar charging shade canopies, motors mounted on implements to replace PTOs and improve safety and efficiency, and the first ever use of linear actuators on a full function electric tractor.

Between 2000 and 2007 Heckeroth worked as the Director of Building Integrated Photovoltaics for the largest thin-film solar manufacturer in the world designing PV roofing products and producing 6 patents for the company. After a hostile take-over and closure of the company by Chevron he went back to designing and building electric tractors. In 2010 he received a utility patent on exchanging battery packs in electric tractors to extend run time. In 2012 Heckeroth founded Solectrac LLC to take small farm electric tractors into commercial production. In 2013 Solectrac received a $500,000 grant from the Indian US Science and Technology Fund (IUSSTF) to develop four all electric tractor prototype row crop tractors. In 2016 Solectrac received a $250,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase 1 grant to develop components for commercial production. Solectrac was in the running for a $1.5 M Phase 2 NSF grant when the new administration cut funding for the program. Heckeroth continued self-funding Solectrac and in 2017 made a prototype electric tractor for a large Indian tractor manufacturer. In 2018 an agreement was made to purchase mechanical components from the Indian company to build the 40 HP eUtility electric tractor. In 2019 the Indian manufacture produced a 25 HP compact electric tractor (CET) and made Solectrac exclusive distributer in most of North America.

On May 28, 2019, Solectrac incorporated as a California Benefit Corp and Heckeroth’s title changed from Manager to Founder and CEO. On May 28, 2020, Solectrac launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $1M to scale up assembly facilities and hire more personal for mass production of electric tractors. In June 2020 Solectrac was awarded a 500K grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) as part of its Funding Agriculture Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions Demonstration Program, or FARMER program, which provides incentives to reduce agriculture sector air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. In July 2020 Solectrac received the World Alliance Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions label from the Solar Impulse Foundation. The label was awarded for being one of the 1,000 most efficient and profitable solutions, that can transition society to being economically viable while being environmentally sustainable.

In late 2020 Ideanomics (IDEX) made two investments to help Solectrac ramp up sales and production, and in June of 2021 Ideanomics acquired Solectrac as a wholly owned subsidiary to accelerate the company's growth. Mani Iyer, a veteran in tractor manufacturing, replaced Heckeroth as CEO. Heckeroth continues his work for Solectrac by Ideanomics as Founder, Chief Innovation Officer and Board Chair. Solectrac is based in Winsor California and has R&D facilities in Santa Rosa, California. Solectrac is committed to meet the increasing demand for zero-emission, high torque, quiet, low life cycle cost electric tractors.