If you wish that fuel cell technology was available to help you save money on your motoring costs then spare a thought for the poor old farmer, who is stuck with driving probably one of the most gas-guzzling vehicles in the world. So far, it seems the agricultural world has been left behind in the race to go green. It has been largely accepted that big multi-functional vehicles such as tractors are inevitably going to be thirsty-but at last there may be a solution.
Agricultural machinery firm, New Holland is set to unveil a first for the farming world- a fuel cell tractor. The new NH2 hydrogen tractor will make its public debut today at the 2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.
Based on the popular New Holland T6000 Series tractor, the NH2 tractor uses fuel cells and a store of hydrogen to power all its functions. Compressed hydrogen taken from the storage tank and reacts in vehicle’s the fuel cell with oxygen, drawn from the air, to produce water and electricity. The electricity then drives the motors to power the tractor’s drivetrain and auxiliary systems.
The working prototype tractor produces 106 bhp and is able to perform all the tasks of a tractor while emitting nothing other than heat and water. It’s virtually silent too, so there will be nothing to disturb the peace of the countryside. Its manufacturer hopes that the model could help farmers become energy independent as they utilise solar, wind and other natural and renewable sources such as waste products to generate energy and store it in the form of hydrogen.
‘Farmers are in a unique position to benefit from hydrogen technology’, the firm said in a statement. ‘Apart from the environmental benefits, such a system would allow customers to become energy independent and improve their financial stability’ it said.
The vehicle is now being tested at an olive farm in Lebanon.
