Alternative fuels are a key area of focus for the global agricultural industry. The main area of development in this sector is agricultural equipment, in particular heavy machinery such as tractors.
One such innovative technology was the centre of attention at a recent international event in Paris – a tractor running predominantly on biomethane, known as an incredibly clean fuel that is 80% less harmful than diesel emissions.
It was the T6.180 Methane Power, a tractor manufactured by New Holland Agriculture, a division of Italian-American company CNH Industrial, in partnership with British firm Bennamann.
Since the first prototype was launched in 2013, the company has been testing its biomethane-powered tractors around the world, and they are now increasingly appearing on farms around the world.
Nicolas Morel, alternative fuels manager at CNH Industrial France, said the tractor came about as a response to the “explosive growth in production costs and energy access problems” seen over the past few years. In an interview with the media, he claimed:
“This tractor is a lifesaver and a guarantee of security in the long term.”
Morel added that because the tractor is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), it has the same power and torque as its diesel counterpart, while reducing fuel costs by up to 30 per cent. Emissions of fine particulate matter and nitrogen are 98 per cent and 65 per cent lower, respectively, making it very environmentally friendly. He said:
“There are all sorts of advantages regarding energy independence, reduced pollution and an improved carbon footprint for farms.”
Farmers can sell these carbon credits to companies, providing another way to increase their profitability, he added. Morel said the company is working on another, more powerful version that will have 75 per cent of the same power as diesel variants and will be able to “run for 9-10 hours” on the road.
