For the past several years, New Holland has been showing alternative fuel tractors at Germany’s Agritechnica farm machinery show in Hanover. This year, the brand unveiled its production-ready version of a T7.270 methane-powered model.
WHY IT MATTERS: Farm equipment companies have not been spared the societal push away from fossil fuels, whether that’s the hunt for going electric or other alternative fuels —in this case, methane.
A T6.180 methane-powered tractor was launched in North America in 2022. This new T7.270 significantly increases the horsepower available from an alternative fuel model offered by the blue brand.
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The methane and CNG (compressed natural gas) powered T7.270 was previewed at the 2023 Agritechnica show, but now the tractor is ready to head out to dealers, primarily in Europe, where many farms have bio-methane digesters already in operation. On those operations, the new T7 can get its fuel supply entirely from on-farm resources.
On-farm bio-methane is created from manure and other organic waste. New Holland claims this creates a closed-loop system reducing emissions, cutting fertilizer use, and it can even achieve a negative carbon footprint for farms.
“The T7.270 Methane Power is ideal for bio-digester operators running haulage tractor fleets,” Darragh Mullin, New Holland’s T7 long wheelbase global product manager, said in a news release.
Eye towards Europe
That emphasized the fact that more of these tractors will likely find a home on European farms — that is, at least until the level of public environmental concern in North America rises to the level of that across the Atlantic, or until the cost of alternative fuel starts to become competitive with diesel.
The T7.270 relies on a 6.7-litre, six-cylinder engine upgraded with a “high-performance turbo, new engine dataset, specific fuel system and after-treatment layout.” The engine has a peak torque of 855 foot-pounds and produces a maximum 270 h.p. with a 750 hour service interval.
Tractor specifications
The engine is mated to NH’s Auto Command CVT transmission.
Onboard fuel capacity is 174 gallons (657 litres), but that can be increased with the addition of a 127 gallon (480 litre) “range extender” tank mounted on the front. New Holland says that should provide the engine with enough fuel for roughly 11 hours of work when used for transport jobs, which is a much more common application for tractors in Europe than in North Americda.
Limited fuel storage capacity and working range have been concerns on previous concept tractors designed to work with biogas.
Sustainability focus
Of all the ag equipment brands, New Holland has been the most vocal about its sustainable farming research and pioneering use of alternative fuel sources. The brand even operates a research farm in Italy dedicated to environmental sustainability.
The company has been working with two U.S. universities, donating a T6.180 to them to study its benefits to sustainable farming programs.
