A remarkable Swiss family has made waves in the agricultural industry by creating Europe’s very first all-electric, solar-assisted tractor, which is now available in five different countries.
The Knüsel Family, residing in the picturesque canton of Schwyz, has a rich history in tractor manufacturing. Sepp Knüsel, the dedicated father of four, has been designing tractors for over two decades under the brand Rigitrac AG.
In 2019, alongside his four daughters, Sepp launched the continent’s pioneering all-electric tractor. Fast forward six years, and their innovative creation was honored with the prestigious Watt d’Or, also known as the ‘Golden Watt,’ recognizing their commitment to sustainability.
“The journey to develop the electric tractor was extensive and filled with challenges,” shared Theres Beutler-Knüsel, the family’s second-oldest daughter and managing director of Rigitrac AG, in an interview with Swiss outlet SRF.
The inspiration behind this groundbreaking idea stemmed from observing the numerous farms, dairies, and feedlots equipped with solar panels on their rooftops. The Knüsel family envisioned a way for these businesses to harness that solar energy more effectively. Considering that tractors often sit idle in the sun, they believed that adding a solar panel to the roof could significantly enhance the vehicle’s range and operating time.
This exciting concept led the father-daughter team to develop a prototype while Theres was studying at the University of Dresden in 2018. “When we initially began, many of the essential components were not yet available on the market,” Beutler-Knüsel explained, emphasizing the close collaboration with suppliers to create all the necessary parts for mass production of the tractor.
Today, the Rigitrac SKE 40 is proudly sold in Austria, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, and it has even made an appearance in the popular PC video game, Farming Simulator.
Equipped with four electric motors providing a total of 84KW, the tractor features one motor for the front wheels, another for the back, and a third for starting. While it may not be suited for the most demanding agricultural tasks like plowing, it excels in vegetable farming and snow removal.
Sepp’s wife Marlis, along with their daughters Edith Winter-Knüsel, Doris Knüsel, and Ruth Durrer-Knüsel, all contribute to the family business, taking on various roles such as overseeing advertising, managing human resources, leading the sales team, and handling supply logistics.
In 2025, the SKE 40 received the Golden Watt award from the Federal Office of Energy, which honors innovative Swiss companies and organizations that are shaping the future of energy technology. Although the award doesn’t come with monetary rewards, it offers invaluable publicity that has greatly benefitted Rigitrac AG.
Beutler-Knüsel expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating that the Watt d’Or serves as “a fantastic acknowledgment that confirms we are on the right track.”
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