For more than 15 years, New Holland has led the development of more sustainable products within its portfolio thanks to the “Clean Energy Leader” strategy, exploring new fuels and propulsion systems. The commercial launch of the new T6.180 Methane Power -propelled by renewable natural gas- is a milestone within the company because it represents the first and only tractor of these characteristics to enter production worldwide.
Within the framework of the Green Gas Mobility Summit, an annual event organized by Gasnam in Madrid, New Holland presented the T6.180 Methane Power, as its spearhead within the aforementioned “Clean Energy Leader” strategy.
José Llopis, New Holland’s Marketing Director for Spain and Portugal, commented on the variables that currently make this tractor a key piece in the global puzzle of a circular and more environmentally friendly agricultural and livestock industry. Issues such as the high price of fuel, pollution from large livestock farms, or climate change are currently very topical and all three could find a common solution, at least partially, in biomethane.
An important market niche in which the T6.180 Methane Power can offer a differentiating argument is that of municipal maintenance and cleaning contracts, already accustomed to the use of this type of fuel in their truck fleet and very interested in the fact that the many tractors involved in road maintenance or beach cleaning are also more environmentally friendly.
Within this peculiarity, New Holland collaborated with one of the largest companies at the national level, FCC Environment. This company has provided the machinery manufacturer with the opportunity to carry out performance and autonomy tests on the beaches of Vigo with equipment that is commonly used.
The results have been exceptional, managing to carry out maintenance work in the same way as its diesel equivalents, but with less noise and much lower pollution levels. Operators who regularly work with this equipment have also praised the exceptional performance, which has nothing to envy to the diesel versions that are used today.
Being powered by natural gas (whether renewable or not), the T6.180 Methane Power engine emits much less pollutants than its Phase V diesel counterpart (the cleanest on the market today) and with an after-treatment system of the exhaust gases, extraordinarily simpler. Specifically, this model is capable of emitting 98% fewer particles or 62% less NOx with the sole presence of a simple three-way catalyst. This avoids particulate filters and their regenerations, SCR systems with AdBlue or even EGR valves. All this with the same features as its equivalent diesel version in terms of torque and power, but with a much lower noise level, which is an advantage when used in public spaces.
Regarding the autonomy section, the new T6.180 Methane Power has enough capacity to work several days in light tasks without refueling, provided that the optional front tank is installed, which adds 270 liters to the 190 that the tractor has as standard. In heavy tasks there will also be no problem if the CNG supply point is nearby or, even better, if the farm has its own compressed biomethane supply point.
Source: New Holland
