October 19, 2021. New Holland Agriculture with the world’s first production T6 Methane Power Tractor at the EIMA exhibition (Bologna Italy 19-23 October 2021) was crowned Sustainable Tractor of the Year 2022 – the prestigious award decided by the Tractor of the Year® jury.
Carlo Lambro, New Holland Brand President, commented: “We are very proud of receiving the this title Sustainable Tractor of the Year Award again but for our production tractor. This is the culmination of New Holland’s pioneering work on the use of alternative fuels through our Clean Energy Leader strategy, and it is a significant step forward on the path to decarbonizing agriculture. This award is a well-deserved recognition of the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the development of the T6.180 Methane Power tractor series, from our engineering teams to the whole Basildon plant team.”
Oscar Baroncelli, Head of Tractor Product Management, stated: “The T6 Methane Power tractor we presenting here at EIMA is our production unit, and this technology is available to our customers now. With the economic and practical advantages, it brings, further enhanced when using biomethane, we expect a lot of interest from biogas plant operators and suppliers, and also farmers with access to the gas network. Municipalities are also showing a lot of interest in adding this tractor to their fleets of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to further reduce their emissions footprint.”
First shown in 2017 and launched officially two years later, the T6.180 Methane Power features a re-engineered six-cylinder FPT Industrial NEF engine producing 175hp like its diesel-fueled equivalent. Gas injectors and spark plugs replace the diesel injector, with the gas injected into each cylinder for constant, clean, maximised combustion.
Compared to the limits allowed under EU Stage V emissions rules, carbon monoxide emissions from the methane-powered T6.180 are 80% lower, while the level of non-methane hydrocarbons is reduced by 90%. Particulate matter is down by 98%, nitrous oxide by 62%, and CO2 by 11%. However, the T6.180 Methane Power has the same 175hp maximum power output with boost as its conventional cousin and produces maximum torque of 740Nm. Running costs are up to 30% lower, while less vibration.
In other areas, the tractor resembles its diesel-powered equivalent, but the key change is the replacement of the fuel tanks with a combination of ten tanks arranged around the centre of the chassis. The front-mounted ‘range extender’ unit can be replaced with a front linkage and PTO if required or removed for loader work. With 453 litres of gas capacity, equating to 79kgs, the tractor holds sufficient fuel for around eight hours of road haulage or PTO work, rising to 14 hours for operating something like a cattle feeder.
“What surprises customers is the power and the torque that is the same as the diesel. Refueling is simple, and very similar to the process of filling an CNG -powered car or truck,” says Mark Howell, Global Product Manager Alternative Fuel at New Holland.
