Centennial agricultural machinery manufacturer New Holland Agriculture launched the latest development in its vision for the sustainable future of farming: a methane powered concept tractor that reimagines the design of this machine and reveals a connected future. The brand imagines the farm of the future as being completely energy independent producing not only food but also the biomass it needs to generate the energy it uses to run its operations and power its tractors and other machinery.
New Holland Agriculture, a brand subsidiary of CNH Industrial America Inc., launched August 29 the latest development in its vision for the sustainable future of farming at the 2017 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois: a methane powered concept tractor that reimagines the design of this machine and reveals a connected future.
The brand which will celebrate 100 years since the launch of the Fordson 22, the world’s first mass-produced tractor next month, imagines the farm of the future as being completely energy independent: a farm that produces not only food, but also the biomass it needs to generate the energy it uses to run its operations and power its tractors and other machinery. Such a self-sufficient future is achievable today the company says, with New Holland’s “advanced technology and vision.”
The new methane powered concept tractor is the latest development in New Holland’s pursuit of sustainable and efficient technology through innovation. It’s groundbreaking engine delivers the same performance and has the same durability as its standard equivalent, but with much lower running costs. It combines alternative fuels and advanced agricultural technology to create a vital link that closes the loop in the Energy Independent Farm’s virtuous cycle by running on the energy produced from the land and waste products, said Carlo Lambro, New Holland Agriculture Brand President,
Pushing to pioneer alternative fuels solutions
New Holland has been pushing the boundaries of innovation in clean energy solutions for more than a decade through its Clean Energy Leader strategy. It was the first manufacturer to offer 100 percent compatibility with biodiesel back in 2006. In 2009 it developed the world’s first hydrogen tractor concept, NH2 proving the feasibility of the technology for the future. This was a key element of the brand’s Energy Independent Farm concept, launched at the same time.
In 2012, it created its first propane fueled tractor prototype and is now developing the T6 Propane Power tractor in partnership with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and in 2013, New Holland presented its first T6 Methane Power tractor prototype, which it has been developed further and tested with customers.
Equal performance with lower running costs
According to the company, the new methane powered concept tractor builds on the foundations of the previous T6 Methane Power prototypes to achieve a significant technological advance. It features a powertrain that uses a groundbreaking efficient combustion technology specifically developed for agriculture applications by FPT Industrial, a brand of CNH Industrial that has pioneered natural gas traction for more than 20 years.
The 6-cylinder NEF methane engine delivers 180 hp and 740 Nm: the same power and torque as its standard diesel equivalent. It has the same durability and service intervals and generates up to 30 percent running cost savings. The innovative tank design, using a composite layered tubular structure, enables a full day’s autonomy in line with an equivalent diesel model.
The powertrain of the methane powered concept tractor has the added benefit of quiet operation, with engine noise level reduced by up to 3 dBA. This translates to around 50 percent reduction in drive-by-noise, which makes it ideal for municipalities, yard, and transport operations.
In real field conditions, the methane powered concept tractor produces at least 10 percent lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and reduces overall emissions by 80 percent compared to a standard diesel tractor. Its environmental performance further improves when fuelled by biomethane produced from crop residues and waste from farm-grown energy crops, which results in virtually zero CO2 emissions.
Vital link in the Energy Independent Farm’s virtuous cycle
The company says that the methane powered concept tractor forms a “vital link” in the virtuous cycle that delivers CO2 neutral production, where the Energy Independent Farm produces the energy it needs to power its operations, heat farm buildings, and run its equipment.
Biomethane as a sustainable fuel is particularly well suited to farms, as they have the raw materials and the space to house a biodigester and upgrading facilities to produce the gas. The biomethane can also be used to fuel a generator to produce electricity that can be used on the farm with any extra fed into the electricity grid to power local communities. The by-products of anaerobic digestion (AD) can be used as natural fertilisers on the farm’s fields.
Reimagines tractor design
CNH Industrial’s design team reimagined tractor styling, taking inspiration from automotive design, to create a fully integrated body look while accentuating iconic New Holland style elements such as the aggressive hood air intake gills and lights along with strong “brand design” elements such as the unique leaf-shaped seat and signature lights.
Wrap-around glazing provides 360-degree visibility, with a 20 percent increase in the glazed area compared to a standard tractor. The floating glass domed roof with fully integrated Precision Land Management receiver provides a completely panoramic design – an agricultural first – and offers an unobstructed view of the loader at all times, facilitating operations, from loading digestate to feeding cattle.
The interior of the cab offers a clutter-free operating environment, with all essential controls on the integrated armrest and additional parameters controlled through the interactive headliner display. The fixed hub steering wheel-mounted display cluster moves with the steering wheel when it is raised or lowered to accommodate for the size of the operator, ensuring optimum visibility on the display information in all positions.
Mark centennial with (bio)methane
October 8 this year marks the 100-year anniversary since the completion of the first Fordson model 22 tractor shipped from the United States to the United Kingdom. Following the landmark date and given the high demand for tractors due to war and severe food shortages, lack of manpower and horses, the first Fordson tractors were sold in the United States in April 1918 for US$750.
Twenty-two years after the introduction of the Fordson 22, the Ford 9N was released in October 1939, serving as the first American-made production model tractor to incorporate a three-point hitch system, a design still used on most modern tractors today.
The New Holland methane powered concept tractor closes the virtuous cycle of the Energy Independent Farm combining visionary design concepts with advanced technologies, extended connectivity and reliable powertrain technology that are already available, fuelling innovation to offer a glimpse into a sustainable future of efficient and productive farming.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Fordson 22, the world’s first mass-produced tractor, we are reminded that innovation and industry-leading solutions for profitable and sustainable agriculture are a key factor in the New Holland brand’s DNA. With our Clean Energy Leader and Precision Land Management strategies, New Holland is committed to finding and providing the industry’s latest advancements and our wide equipment offering continues to push the bar with practical innovation, said Bret Lieberman, Vice President for New Holland North America.
