The company is one of 16 innovators selected by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) to receive support through Mobilise, an accelerator programme funded by the Government's £4bn DRIVE35 initiative. Aftrak will receive funding of up to £180,000, alongside business support, to further validate its flagship AFT-e1 electric micro-tractor and strengthen manufacturing capability.
Founded to make mechanisation more accessible for small-scale growers, Aftrak combines expertise in engineering, battery technology and international agricultural development. The AFT-e1 is a walk-behind electric micro-tractor designed to provide an affordable, low-emission alternative to conventional machinery. With a hot-swappable battery and a range of interchangeable attachments, the tractor helps growers improve productivity while reducing fuel use, noise and operating costs.
Aftrak has already received international recognition, winning the $1 million Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy in 2024 and being nominated for the Earthshot Prize in 2025. The AFT-e1 has been successfully trialled in Malawi for Deep Bed Farming and hard-ground cultivation.
DRIVE35 Mobilise will help prove the technology in the UK through trials with nurseries, market gardens and urban farms. The platform is designed for a broad range of small-scale agricultural applications, including horticulture, vineyards, orchards, protected growing environments and equestrian settings.
Dr Jonathan Wilson, Lecturer in Sustainable Energy Systems and Co-founder of Aftrak, said:
“We're delighted to have been selected for Mobilise support. This funding will help us further validate the AFT-e1 for use here in the UK. The success of our trials in Malawi has demonstrated both the impact and commercial potential of the technology in Africa and now we believe it will have a meaningful impact on farmers here in the UK. This support from the Advanced Propulsion Centre will help us take an important next step towards bringing affordable electric mechanisation to more growers.”
Professor Dan Parsons, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Loughborough University and Aftrak Board Member, also said:
“Congratulations to the team on securing this highly competitive award. The Mobilise programme provides valuable support at a pivotal stage of the company's development and is a brilliant endorsement of the innovation behind the AFT-e1. This funding will help accelerate Aftrak's journey from successful trials and demonstration towards full commercial deployment and manufacturing at scale, enabling the technology to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits both in the UK.”