WESTERN PRODUCER — The future will likely see a variety of energy sources for agricultural implements as the number of options increase
In a recent online discussion hosted by DLG (the German Agricultural Society), Professor Till Meinel, of the Cologne Institute of Construction Machinery and Agricultural Engineering in Germany, offered his thoughts on the future of power sources for farm equipment as the world looks beyond fossil fuels.
“I’m convinced,” he said, “we will have a good mix of energy sources in the future, at least when it comes to ag technology, because farmers do have quite a lot of possibilities to produce energy themselves and to use it to drive their machines and tractors. I don’t see one monopoly energy source for all kinds of machinery for the future, because we already, today have exactly this development in the market. Smaller tractors and interior machines are on the market fully 100 per cent electric. For bigger tractors and combine harvesters we definitely need different energy sources.”
That prediction seems safe, because as he said, the situation is already developing. Equipment and automotive manufacturers are exploring new fuels and energy sources. And they’ve already commercialized some.
In 2022, New Holland introduced its first bio-methane powered tractor to the North American market, the T6.180, which it first showed at a trade show in Germany in 2019. It can run on either bio-methane or compressed natural gas (CNG). Bio-methane can be created from on-farm waste.
New Holland said this tractor could cut operating costs by 30 percent, while still providing performance comparable to a conventional diesel engine. Compared to limits allowed under European Stage V emission regulations, the T6 Methane Power produces 98 percent less particulate matter, the company added. When running bio-methane, The T6.180 can provide a 10 to 15 percent reduction in CO2 for a negative emission profile.
The blue brand has talked a lot about its energy-independent farm concept over the past few years. It has a demonstration farm in Italy, which produces its own fuel from animal waste and creates an almost carbon neutral footprint.
In 2021, Carlo Lambro, New Holland’s president, said: “We have pioneered sustainable, innovative solutions for some 14 years. We developed the Energy-Independent Farm model, showing how a closed-loop between agricultural production and energy generation can make farming CO2-neutral, or even carbon negative, with significant benefits for our customers.”
In July of this year, New Holland opened another energy-independent experimental farm, this time in Brazil. It plans to use bio-methane from organic waste as the main fuel for equipment. A T6.180 tractor will be central to that operation.
But the multi-fuel T6.180 is just one effort the company has made toward alternative fuels. In July, the T4 Electric made its debut in North America.
It is totally battery electric and works on a 400-volt system. It has the equivalent of 74 rated horsepower (65 power take-off), front-wheel assist and uses a 12 x 12 transmission.
When used with a loader, it has a forward-reverse power shuttle for ease of operation but without the bark of a diesel engine.
Run time is about four hours with a fast recharge feature.
“The T4 Electric Power’s quiet electric motor is definitely a big advantage and important tool in noise sensitive areas,” said Lena Bioni, product marketing manager for New Holland Agriculture North America. “Outside, the tractor omits less noise and vibrations compared to diesel ones. Take for example, operating within equestrian barns or on college campuses running mowers and plowing snow alongside dorms.”
Of course, NH’s sister brand, Case IH simultaneously launched the red version of the T4 Electric, dubbed the Farmall 75C Electric.
Agco has widely publicized the ongoing development and testing of its e100 battery-electric Fendt tractor, which is comparable in size to the 75C. It’s expected to debut soon.
And there are other manufacturers jumping on the electrification trend for smaller ag and construction equipment, such as Firstgreen Industries with the recent introduction of its Elise 700 battery electric skid steer loader. Designed for smaller jobs, it fully recharges in three to five hours.
The Elise can be operated through a smartphone app by anyone standing within 49 feet of the machine. But it isn’t a powerhouse, with a rated horsepower of just 13.4. For those who need a machine for inside a building or barn, however, it could be viable option.
“When battery-operated drills were first introduced into the market, they faced skepticism. Now, cordless drills are the norm due to their convenience and efficiency. Similarly, while electric skid steers may be a relatively new concept, they will become mainstream as more people recognize their benefits.” Ken Pederson, sales manager at Evolution Mechanical, the Alberta and British Columbia retailer of the Elise, said in a news release.
In 2019, JCB launched its line of electric-drive light construction equipment, including a telehandler, the 525-60E, which has a 2,500 kilogram lift rating.
JCB has another green energy project on the go as well. In January it announced it is investing about C$165 million in an internal combustion hydrogen engine development project and has 50 prototypes undergoing trials.
Last October, Agco announced it had developed a new line of engines, the Core75, which were to be the basis for further development toward being compatible with hydrogen, biogas and methanol. It was chosen as the power plant for the Fendt Gen 7 700 Series tractors. The Core75 was designed for low-speed performance, but in March Agco showed an updated prototype version at a construction trade show in Las Vegas, capable of putting out more power at higher rpms.
And in February, Agco’s Fendt showed off a prototype hydrogen-powered tractor at a “Hydrogen Summit” held in Germany.
“I see hydrogen as a very important solution to problems in agriculture and forestry,” said Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, during the event.
“Agriculture and forestry can supply a lot of energy, which can also be used to generate hydrogen. Agri-PV plants or wind power generate electricity on agricultural and forestry land and use it to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen from biogas plants or from forest residual wood is also conceivable… we need these things.”
As part of Germany’s H2Agrar program, Fendt will supply two prototype hydrogen tractors to be used on a low-carbon emitting demonstration farm in Lower Saxony.
But hydrogen can be used in electric-drive machines as well as internal combustion engines, with a fuel cell converting hydrogen to electricity. As far back as 2011 New Holland had displayed its NH2 hydrogen fuel-cell prototype at Agritechnica.
However, further development of that concept has been discontinued according to Agco. Others, such as JCB, have also experimented with fuel cell technology, but it too, discontinued that program in favour of hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine equipment, stating the duty cycle and working environment of off-road equipment isn’t well suited to fuel cells.
For on-road vehicles, however, it’s a different story. In May, Kenworth announced it was opening commercial orders for hydrogen-powered Class 8 trucks that use Toyota fuel cell technology with a range of up to 725 kilometres. Full production is expected to start in 2025.
“T680 FCEV was engineered to offer one of the longest driving ranges of any zero emissions trucks on the market,” said Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager.
“With quick refuelling, this broadens our zero-emission product offering to include round-the-clock operations in regional haul and demonstrates FCEV potential for long haul.”
In Germany in September, a Mercedez-Benz heavy truck completed a 1,047-km trip powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which was developed in Canada in a joint venture with Volvo Trucks.
“Today we put an exclamation mark behind the hydrogen story,” said Andreas Gorbach, head of heavy truck technology Daimler Truck AG, in a video statement. “To decarbonize transport, we need both battery-electric and hydrogen-powered technologies.”
The same may be true for ag equipment.
As Meinel noted, it appears the world of multiple fuel sources is about to arrive in a big way.
Bookmark SASKTODAY.ca, Saskatchewan's home page, at this link.
