NEW Holland Agriculture has unveiled its prototype for a methane-powered tractor, the T6.175.
The first generation of methane tractors shown by New Holland were shown at Agritechnica in 2013, and were based on a standard T6.140 tractor and housed a four-cylinder suspended engine which put out 136hp and 350Nm of torque.
The latest addition to New Hollands methane prototypes is based on a T6.175 standard tractor but without the SCR after-treatment add-ons, and delivers 179hp and an increased torque of 740Nm over the previous generation prototype.
Nine storage tanks around the tractor hold 300 litres (equivalent to 52kg) of compressed methane, which is enough for roughly half a day’s work depending on what you’re doing.
New Holland points out that, if required, implements could also be designed to carry gas tanks, while add-ons such as front-mounted tanks and extra ballast could all play a part.
Savings of between 20% and 40% can be made on regular diesel models, says New Holland.
Moreover emissions are 80% lower than a standard diesel tractor thanks to a three-way catalyst that ensures compliance on its own, without the need for an additional after-treatment system.
Methane-powered tractors could be on sale to farmers within five years, says New Holland, at a price that competes with conventional diesel-powered equivalents.
Here’s a video on New Hollands last generation methane power tractor:
Posted in: Industry News
By Big Tyres Team
25 June 2015
