New Holland is developing a more powerful gas fuelled tractor as it unveils the T7.270 Methane Power LNG based on the diesel burning T7.270 long wheel base PLM tractor.
But it is not just about swapping the fuel burning bits, the tractor has been given its own identifying styling, with a ‘Clean Blue’ colour scheme for the new look bonnet with an illuminated New Holland leaf for instance. But more on that in a moment.
The prototype tractor uses the same 6.75-litre, six-cylinder block but the piston rings have been upgraded and because it is now running on liquified natural gas, the cylinder head has changed to one with liquid gas injectors and spark plugs.
The 400-litre capacity diesel tanks have been swapped out for a series of pressurised gas tanks to hold the gas. The SCR unit has also been booted into touch and replaced by additional storage to allow the tractor to be used for around eight hours. This can be increased by adding an extender tank to the front linkage, just as you can on the T6.180 Methane Power.
One key difference between the two tractors is that the tanks on the T7.270 LNG are cooled. These are sourced from Bennamann, who CNH Industrial now owns a minority stake in. The non-venting cryogenic storage tanks keep the methane as a liquid at -162°C so it can be used by the T7.270 LNG.
The tractor has been undergoing tests including work on Trenance Farm in Cornwall alongside a T6.180 MP operated by Kevin and Katie Hoare.
Bennamann’s on-farm liquid fugitive biomethane production process is being used to capture the gas from livestock slurry. The gas is purified and converted into liquified methane. Cooled tanks like those used on the tractor are also used to transport the gas just as you can with diesel so it can be used on farms without the facilities to produce their own gas.
Visually, the styling on the pre-production tractor looks different to the new long wheelbase T7 PLM models which were only launched in November at SIMA. The LNG tractor does have all the PLM updates but the design team has added extra details. For example, additional illuminated leaf logos can be found on the side of C-pillars, the front mudguards have additional light strips but even more noticeable is the remodelled cab top. This has a full width high level brake light and the also incorporates the GPS antenna.
We hope to get a closer look at the tractor next year, but for now there is no firm date on when the T7.270 LNG will become commercially available.
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