New Holland has put the development of a hydrogen-powered tractor on hold, preferring to put more research and development funding into methane-powered options.

The company’s agriculture president Carlo Lambro, President New Holland Agriculture made the announcement at the celebrations of 50 years of tractor production at Basildon, England.

He said that the cost of the fuel cell system for the hydrogen was too expensive, while there is more potential in the methane option that is currently on test. “We are continuing the development of the methane engine tractor at a cost that is close to the cost of a diesel tractor and it could be on the market at an acceptable price in five years,” said Lambro.

The working prototype methane-powered T6.140 has been worked in recent months at the New Holland La Bellotta Farm, outside Turin, Italy. The methane is generated through renewable biomass produced in the biogas plant on the farm. New Holland claims that the prototype enjoys all of the features of a standard tractor. It is equipped with a four-cylinder, three-litre engine produced by FPT Industrial, and develops a maximum power of 135hp and 620Nm of torque.

The compressed methane is stored in nine tanks on the farm. The 50kg capacity delivers about half a day of field work during normal operation with an auxiliary 15 litre fuel tank providing a backup.

These tanks have been integrated into the overall tractor design.

New Holland claims that the tractor has the same visibility and operational ground clearance as standard models.

Methane propulsion technology offers numerous environmental advantages, including emissions 80% lower than a standard diesel engine, according to New Holland.

The tractor’s three-way catalyst ensures Tier 4B compliance on its own, without the need for additional after-treatment systems.

When using bio-methane, the machine’s carbon impact is virtually zero, and cost savings between 25% and 40% can be achieved when compared with conventional fuels, New Holland claims.