ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS IN SOUTH KOREA: CLASSIFIED BASED ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRADES

This study involved performing an economic analysis on agricultural tractors classified based on energy efficiency grades using the energy efficiency index. Specifically, 131 models of agricultural tractors commonly used between 2006 and 2010 in South Korea were classified into five categories. The relationship between energy efficiency and economic value was evaluated by a numerical method, and a method of predicting cost and fuel savings based on energy efficiency was developed. Grades of energy efficiency labeled from 1-5 were assumed in order to calculate annual fuel and cost savings. The results indicated that the use of the proposed method resulted in fuel and cost savings given an upgrade from the 5(th) level of energy efficiency to the 1(st) level and indicated subsequent improvements with each grade level. This method was applied to data from the year 2008, and total fuel and cost savings were obtained. This indicated that fuel and cost savings in an arbitrary year could be predicted using the proposed method and assuming data from an arbitrary year.