Combines can cause enough headaches without the added challenge of dealing with a high-voltage power system.

But that hasn’t deterred Zoomlion, one of several hundred Chinese exhibitors at Agritechnica, from developing a “hybrid” harvester with half a dozen electric motors replacing the conventional drives for the transmission, threshing rotors and header.

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According to the company, 70% of the “complex” belts and chains have been removed on the H7-600E, which has “improved reliability by 50%”.

Power is provided by a 480hp diesel engine that simultaneously charges a big nickel-managnese-cobalt battery. When combined, total output is about 600hp.

The combine also comes with guidance provided by China-owned Beidou satellites.

Asking price, should you wish to pioneer such a novelty, is about £350,000 – including a 9.2m header.