CNH Industrial has unveiled the T7 Methane Power pre-production prototype tractor powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The model, which is part of the company's New Holland Agriculture brand, is being marketed as the first commercially available natural gas tractor.
It has a fourfold increase in fuel capacity over the T6 Methane Power CNG. CNH Industrial collaborated with Bennamann, a UK-based company whose multi-patented approach converts fugitive methane to clean biofuel, resulting in an energy-independent and sustainable farm system.
Bennamann's system also provides farmers with new opportunities and revenue streams. These include producing fuel at a consistent cost, selling excess biomethane on the open market, producing 100% natural fertiliser, and converting excess methane into electricity for export or local use.
The new technology in the T7 Methane Power LNG has been tested on a variety of farms across a wide range of applications. CNH Industrial is also focused on electrification, as evidenced by the New Holland T4 Electric power light utility tractor.
Another key trend as farmers seek to improve efficiencies is autonomy. At the beginning of this year, John Deere unveiled a fully autonomous tractor that is ready for mass production. Deere's 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plough, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies are all combined in this machine.
The autonomous tractor is equipped with six pairs of stereo cameras that allow for 360-degree obstacle detection and distance calculation.
