John Deere unveiled a concept version of its 850 X-Tier E-Drive dozer at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2023, and after two years of field testing and refinement, the production version is ready to start shipping to dealers. The new dozer debuted at the company’s 2025 Construction Field Days customer event in Sacaton, Arizona, along with tech upgrades for the 700, 750 and 850 P-Tier dozers.

While at first glance the 850 X-Tier looks similar to the 850L it is modeled after, there are plenty of changes under the hood, inside the cab and to the undercarriage to enhance the efficiency and comfort, most notably the dual-path electric-drive transmission, known as E-Drive. (To get a first look at the 850 X-Tier in action, check out our video at the end of this article.)

“We’ve removed the hydrostatic components out of this tractor and replaced it with a generator and a dual-path electric-drive system, meaning there’s an electric-drive motor in each final drive to control each track independently,” Deere product consultant Cory Brant told Equipment World.

Brant notes that the simplified drivetrain gives the operator more control and improved torque delivery in every application. “When we start thinking about side cutting into slopes, carrying materials around corners, being able to get in and do full power turns, we now have the ability to control each track independently to make sure we get all the power to the ground and move the material as efficiently and as quickly as possible.”

Because the electric-drive system produces more low-end torque at a lower rpm, Deere was able to remove the second turbo from the dozer’s 9-liter engine. The result is greater fuel economy, increased production and a quieter cab. “When you get in this machine and rev it up, the engine is only going to operate at 1,200 rpm. As we add load or increase the production rate of the machine, you may hear the engine spool up, and it’ll increase to about 1,600 rpm,” says Brant. “A traditional dozer runs at around 2,100 or 2,200 rpms.”

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Vroom Vroom! Wonder why they never post the cost of this equipment