The future of tractor power

An electric future

As with cars, tractor manufacturers are looking towards hybrid technology to power their products. Leading manufacturers, such as John Deere, believe that hybrid drivelines are the most realistic option for future tractors. It is also worth noting that the company is working on a 100% electric tractor, called the Sesame.

Sesame gets its name from Sustainable Energy Supply for Agricultural Machinery. According to John Deere, the Sesame is powered by a large 130kWh battery pack — bigger than you'd find on any current Tesla. It will supposedly have a range of about 55 kilometres, and should take about three hours to charge. The Sesame is fitted with two 150kW electric motors for a total output of 300kW, enabling the tractor to haul heavy implements, just as a diesel alternative would - but with maximum torque available from a standstill. John Deere expects that the electric motors will require much less maintenance than a diesel engine, last longer, and provide greater redundancy.

 

Methane powered

Some manufactures believe that electric power is the answer to the our future vehicle needs, but New Holland believes that the possibilities are much wider than just battery power. To showcase their vision of the future, they turned to methane to power their T6 tractor. The T6 is the world’s first methane-powered tractor, and is the culmination of New Holland’s pioneering work on the use of alternative fuels, through their Clean Energy Leader strategy. It is a significant step forward on the path to de-carbonizing agriculture.

The T6 tractor has been designed to deliver the same power as its diesel alternative, with 740Nm on tap. The difference is that the T6 offers around 30% lower running costs and much cleaner operation. During real-world field testing conditions, the T6 Methane Power tractor produced 99% less particulate matter than an equivalent diesel, and reduces CO2 emissions (by a minimum of 10%) and overall emissions (by an impressive 80%).

The T6 Methane Powered tractor features an all-new NEF 6.7 litre engine, specifically developed for agricultural applications. The fuel tanks on the methane powered model are stored in the same position as the diesel tanks on the standard T6 model. This maintains the excellent visibility from the cab, and provides easy access to the cab. For those seeking to extend the tractor's possible working hours, a ‘Range Extender’ is available as an option. This extra fuel tank can be mounted on the front linkage or weight carrier.

The T6 Methane Power tractor is a key element in New Holland’s Energy Independent Farm Concept, closing the loop of a true circular economy, from fields to energy generation and back to fields – a complete CO2-neutral cycle.  Farmers can grow energy crops and use agricultural waste to generate Biomethane. This can then be used to power the T6 Methane Power tractor, achieving near-zero CO2 emissions. Livestock and dairy farmers can take this virtuous cycle even further, by producing Biomethane from manure, which subtracts CO2 from the environment, resulting in a carbon-negative footprint.

 

The future

With the rise in environmental awareness and the push towards greener alternatives, companies such as John Deere and New Holland are leading the charge. It is also worth noting that Mahindra is one of the biggest tractor manufacturers in the world, and they just so happen to field one of the biggest and most competitive teams in the electric only Formula E racing series. Could we see a fully electric tractor from Mahindra soon? All we know is that there is an alternative energy war brewing in the agricultural sector, and it’s going to get interesting.