New Holland presses the accelerator

At the Agritechnica 2023 trade fair in November, New Holland will present the new T7 with CNG drive for the first time. As the third vehicle after the T6.180 Methane Power and the pre-production prototype of the T7 Methane Power LNG, it expands the tractor portfolio with alternative powertrains for field use and climate-friendlier agriculture from the second half of 2024.

New Holland continues to expand its gas tractor portfolio with the launch of a second CNG-powered tractor. Source: New Holland

“We are convinced that biogas is the best available solution today for cost reduction and emission avoidance. However, powerful tractors are still needed in agriculture and we are committed to providing such solutions,” says Carlo Lambro, Brand President of New Holland Agriculture. And that is what the agricultural specialist is doing at the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural technology, Agritechnica from 12 to 18 November 2023 in Hanover (D), by soon having three gas-powered tractors in its portfolio.

One of the New Holland T6.180 Methane Power with CNG drive already in use in Switzerland. Source: CNG-Mobility.ch

The New Holland T6.180 Methane Power with CNG drive, for example, which is already being used successfully in Thayngen SH, will be supplemented by the T7 Methane Power LNG, which can be seen as a pre-series prototype. This rolls to the field work with liquefied gas instead of compressed gas. “With the T6.180 Methane Power, New Holland broke technological barriers and achieves power and torque levels that are on par with a diesel tractor,” says Oscar Baroncelli, head of product management for tractors and telehandlers at New Holland Agriculture. “The T7 Methane Power LNG now matches diesel models not only in terms of power, but also range.”

The CNG powertrain under the hood of the T7 delivers 270 hp and has a longer range, thanks primarily to more CNG tanks on board. Source: New Holland

This means: even in operations with high power requirements, the tractor with LNG drive and up to 270 hp manages a complete working day without refuelling and without a range extender. The reason: liquefied biogas has four times the storage capacity of compressed gas. The T7 Methane Power LNG is also equipped with the patented fuel system with active temperature control. This is based on a stainless steel cryotank and a self-supporting vacuum chamber that insulates the fuel so that the thickness of the tank walls can be reduced. When working in the field, the active temperature control of the tank also ensures smooth engine operation.

The T7.270 Methane Power CNG will celebrate its world premiere at Agritechnica from November 12 to 18, 2023 in Hanover (D). Source: New Holland

New Holland’s third gas tractor, the T7.270 Methane Power CNG, will make its world debut in Hanover. It is based on the T7 platform with PLM Intelligence and is equipped with the latest Horizon Ultra cab as well as the proven 6.7-litre NEF CNG drive, which is also found in the T6.180 Methane Power. However, now with significantly increased power, so that the tractor now also meets high performance expectations. The CNG engine achieves a torque of 1160 Nm and an output of 270 hp

Thanks to additional and cleverly housed CNG tanks, the new tractor with CNG drive can be used in the field for much longer, even without a range extender. Source: New Holland

The engineers have also been able to increase the operating time in the field: by making optimum use of the larger chassis, the T7 can now carry larger CNG tanks. This gives it a storage capacity of 1265 litres or 219 kg of biogas, which is a 178 percent improvement over the T6. Therefore, the new, more powerful CNG model can be used with larger attachments and can handle significantly more operating hours until it stops to refuel. The first units of the T7.270 Methane Power CNG have been undergoing testing since summer 2023, with series production scheduled to start in the second half of 2024. (jas, 24 October 2023)