Side Roads
Discoveries Off the beaten Path
Ranching By Debby Schoeningh
With Electric
Horsepower
Thank You For Shopping
At Wal-Mike’s
David Anderson, right, and Ken Myers prepare to feed cattle with what David fondly refers to as his electric
Henry. Not only is the pickup fully electric, but it can be operated remotely from the back of the trailer with
a handheld control that allows feeding time to be a one-man operation.
Photo by evan Harris
Ranchers have operated in a fuel-
dependent industry for nearly a
century. It’s a livelihood at the mercy
of fluctuating oil prices, with few
alternatives. However, two enterprising
Oregon men recently found a way to
offset at least some of the fuel
expense.
While searching for a cost-
effective way to feed livestock,
beef producer David Anderson
of Haines, Oregon, called
upon longtime friend and auto
mechanic Ken Myers. Together
they created what Ken says may
be the first remote-controlled, all-
electric feed truck of its type in
the world.
David’s 1986 Ford pickup
truck—formerly a diesel—now
runs on 20 deep-cycle lead-acid
batteries located in two lockers
beneath the truck’s flat bed. The
120-volt system, which works similar to
the high-end electric cars currently on
the market. It cost David about $13,000,
not including Ken’s time, to do the conversion. But the savings, David says, are
realized in his day-to-day operations.
The truck—dubbed the electric
“Henry”—costs about 35 cents to power
up and will run approximately 50 miles
on one charge. Compare that to the three
gallons of diesel he used daily to do
chores before going electric.
Feeding cattle with the Henry is now
a one-man operation, saving David the
expense of hiring help. He can start,
steer, throttle, honk the horn and stop
the truck with a hand-held remote control device from up to 500 feet away. He
feeds cattle from a hay wagon hitched to
the Henry, while driving the truck with
the remote.
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