The decarbonization of the agricultural sector is approaching. While it is true that the heaviest machines (like large tractors) make the electrification of the car very complex, hydrogen engines, for example, are offered as a purely practical zero-carbon solution. And at the same performance level as today’s diesel engines.

In fact, the first hydrogen-powered tractors are slowly coming. And its maintenance is relatively simple.

Project. After years of experimentation, the results have already arrived. Or perhaps it was a matter of merging three important companies for one of the most ambitious projects in the agricultural world. Two hydrogen engine manufacturers, Cummins and Buhler, have signed an agreement to put the 15-liter Cummins X15 engine in Versatile’s larger tractors.

Aim? Decarbonize heavy machinery. While they won’t be the first tractors to use hydrogen in the world, they represent an important step towards the energy transition in the field.

Advantages. The most important of these, of course, is to reduce carbon emissions. No hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide are released during the combustion of hydrogen and no particulate matter is formed. As discussed in this Hybrid and Electric article, nitrogen oxides are emitted, although in very low quantities (and these can be further reduced with AdBlue systems already in all modern tractors).

In terms of performance, it will remain the same as the diesel engine, allowing it to be used in highly loaded and high-use vehicles (very long hours) as they offer good autonomy and a short refueling time. . In other words, they do not compromise on the productivity of the farmer. And best of all: the cost is applicable.

Easy maintenance and repair. The good news is that diesel and hydrogen engines share many components, making it easier to implement hydrogen power technologies in current applications. In addition, the fact that many parts are the same allows for lower costs and easier repair and maintenance. The only difference is that above the cylinder head, injection, below the cylinder head, they are almost identical engines.

Which tractors will be the first to use this technology? The hydrogen-powered X15 engines will be installed on the most powerful tractors in the Versatile range: the 530, 580 and 620 that have ever used Cummins X15 diesel. Case IH and John Deere tractors, trucks from Volvo, Peterbilt, International or Mack, industrial machinery from JCB or Komatsu and even on some drilling rigs and ships. Soon, these too could see a change in their engines.

Images: Cummins / Versatile.