EPA tractor
An EPA tractor was originally an agricultural tractor constructed in Sweden from a converted production vehicle or vehicle scraps . Later, EPA tractors were mainly converted and used by young people in rural areas, since they were limited to a maximum design speed of 30 km/h and could be driven from the age of 15 and with a moped driver 's license . The EPA tractors were replaced by the so-called A tractors in 1975 and continue to enjoy great popularity among young people in Sweden.
Surname
The name EPA tractor is derived from EPA ( E nhets p ris a ktiebolaget , also: Enhetspris AB ) which was very well known in Sweden in the 1950s and 1960s . This was an expression of the fact that they are inexpensively manufactured vehicles of simple design and quality. The addition of tractor is used in Sweden, similar to the German-speaking area , for agricultural vehicles and tractors. EPA tractor means low- cost tractor .
story
The construction and use of EPA tractors started in the late 1920s and by the 1930s they were more common in Sweden. On May 31, 1940 a separate law (1940:440) was enacted for the conversion and use of these EPA tractors and on July 1, 1952 a registration requirement for EPA tractors was introduced.
Due to the economic change in the general conditions in Sweden after the Second World War and the now more cost-effective use of series-produced tractors from well-known manufacturers in Sweden, many EPA tractors were shut down and then used by young people. This caused EPA tractor numbers to increase again in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1963, the A tractors were introduced as an alternative to the EPA tractors, but they were subject to stricter requirements and therefore attracted little interest from young people. On March 31, 1975, the EPA tractors were to be banned and completely replaced by the A tractors by March 1978 because the Swedish government considered the EPA tractors to be a traffic and accident risk. After protests and the collection of around 6,800 signatures, the government changed its plan in 1978, the regulations for EPA tractors and A tractors were merged and their continued use - including by young people - is still possible today.
Around 2020 about 12,000 A tractors (EPA tractors) are said to have been operated in Sweden. On July 15, 2020, the Swedish Ministry of Transport eased the technical requirements for converting to an A tractor and there are now said to be around 36,000 in operation.
Conversion to EPA tractor
Requirements for the construction of an EPA tractor or the conversion of a standard motor vehicle into an EPA tractor were:
- a supporting frame and not a self-supporting structure,
- the distance between the wheel axles ( wheelbase ) was not allowed to exceed 225 cm,
- no suspension of the rear axle ,
- reduction of seats to one row,
- creation of a loading area ,
- installation of a trailer hitch ,
- Permanent and irrevocable throttling of engine power and thus driving speed (maximum gear ratio of 1:10 between wheels and engine).
- Beginning July 1, 1970, EPA tractors had special cab requirements or had to have a roll bar .
The requirements for the A tractor, on the other hand, are much lower today.
Before the Second World War, the Ford Model A was a popular production vehicle basis for the conversion . After World War II, it was the Volvo PV445 (Duett), the estate version of the humpback Volvo , that had a strong frame (not a unitary body ) and the rear axle had leaf springs (instead of coil springs ).
discussion
The use of EPA tractors (A tractors) in Sweden by young people has been a subject of constant debate. The advantage is that these vehicles are far safer (“ crumple zone ”) than e.g. B. Mopeds that young people in other countries ride. In more isolated areas, EPA tractors are also a safer and healthier alternative to mopeds, especially in winter.
music
- Min EPA Tractor is a song by Eddie Meduza .
web links
- EPA tractor , Youtube video.
- The absolute hit in Sweden - "EPA cars" , website: zdf.de from October 8, 2020.
- Sweden: A cult vehicle for generations - the EPA tractor , website: ardmediathek.de from November 28, 2021.
itemizations
- ↑ Max Scharnigg: Tempo 30 in Sweden - young people drive slow motion , website: www.landbote.ch from August 19, 2021.
- ↑ a b c Max Scharnigg: Schweden - Jugendkultur - Autotuning , website: sueddeutsche.de from August 2, 2021.
- ↑ a b c d From the EPA tractor to the A tractor , website: skandix.de from February 15, 2021.
- ↑ Dt .: unit price corporation, see: Nationalencyklopedin: EPA , website: ne.se. Today part of the department store chain Åhléns
- ↑ a b Benjamin Nørskov: EPA Sweden , Website: lumix-festival.de.
- ↑ epatractor , website: ne.se (Nationalencyklopedin).
- ↑ a b Word of the week: EPO-traktor , website: tmy.se of 17 June 2007.
- ↑ See Law 1940:440. Originally the maximum driving speed was 20 km/h and was then increased to 30 km/h in the 1950s.