A global competition judged on working hardware in the field, and still the strongest external validation of the system. Since then: a double win at The Engineer's Collaborate to Innovate Awards, the IET's Power and Energy award, the AgriTech award at Business Tech Africa's African Tech Innovation of the Year, Loughborough's Vice-Chancellor's Award and the Loughborough Enterprise Network Impact Award, and a nomination for The Earthshot Prize.
Grant funding of up to £180,000 with business support, to validate the AFT-e1 further and build manufacturing capability. Announced 10 August 2026.
Won by co-founders Jonathan Wilson and Toby Williams at the awards evening on 4 June 2026 at Loughborough University Stadium, presented by the Vice-Chancellor, Nick Jennings, from a field of seven founders.
A double win at The Engineer's Collaborate to Innovate Awards 2024: the Grand Prix, by unanimous decision of the judges, and the Energy & Environment category. Presented on 27 February 2025 at One Great George Street, London, for the collaboration between Aftrak, Loughborough University, the Consortium for Battery Innovation, Tiyeni and Clarios.
Nominated in December 2024 for the 2025 prize. Aftrak reached the top 14 per cent of nominations and did not advance to the finalists, announced August 2025.
For a microgrid that integrates energy access with electric agriculture and Deep Bed Farming. Presented at the Library of Birmingham on 4 December 2024.
The AgriTech award in the inaugural edition, announced 18 November 2024, for the solar-charged mini tractor. The overall title that year went to another company; this was the category.
Announced on 6 May 2024 at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, for the combined solar microgrid and micro electric tractor system. The final round was a 24-hour off-grid generation test at Stellenbosch University.
Awarded to the Aftrak team at the university's 2024 Vice-Chancellor's Awards.
Runner-up in the Innovation in Sustainability category, announced 20 March 2024 at the Leicestershire Innovation Festival awards at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park, for combining solar microgrids and tailored tractors to empower smallholder farmers.
Development supported by the Wolfson School and the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, with laboratory facilities for prototype manufacture and testing.
Collaboration on recyclable battery technology and energy storage standards.