Hydrogen-powered tractors

1st Quarter 2012 Electrical switching & drive systems & components

New Holland Agriculture’s NH2 hydrogen-powered tractors were showcased in Durban at COP17.

“These new hydrogen powered tractors, which are the world’s first tractors to be powered by hydrogen, have been designed to help farmers cope with the increasing costs of fuel,” says Peter Askew, managing director of New Holland Agriculture South Africa.

“We believe hydrogen technology will give farmers an independent supply of energy, which can be used in a wide variety of vehicles and applications, giving them greater control over the future of their business. The new hydrogen-powered NH2 tractor replaces the traditional combustion engine with hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity.

Compressed hydrogen drawn from the tank on the tractor reacts in the fuel cell with oxygen drawn from the air, to produce water and electrons. These are harnessed in the form of an electric current, which drives electric motors to power the tractor’s drivetrain and auxiliary systems.

The fuel cell generates less heat than an internal combustion engine. There is a consistent output of power and no polluting nitrogen oxides, soot particles or carbon dioxide are produced. This has added health benefits when working in confined spaces.

New Holland’s EasyDrive transmission system offers quieter operation, improved power transmission and great fuel efficiency. The flexible transmission gives the operator high levels of control and features useful driver aids for maximum productivity. An anti-stall facility can disengage the drive before the engine stalls, which is ideal when pushing a loader into heavy material, or to overcome a particularly high working load.

For more information contact Peter Askew, New Holland Agriculture South Africa, +27 (0)11 922 2300, [email protected], www.nhsa.co.za

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