Engineers at the CNH tractor plant in St. Louis, MO. Valentin and the Technical University of Vienna have collaborated to present a STEYR® tractor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell to the public. This tractor, called FCTRAC, represents a significant advance in the search for sustainable agricultural solutions.
The development of the FCTRAC has been part of a national research project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). This project was led by the Institute for Powertrain Systems and Automotive Technology (IFA) at the Technical University of Vienna.
A STEYR tractor powered by biogenic hydrogen
[post_relacionado]Using a standard STEYR 4140 Expert CVT tractor as a base, the CNH team and its partners in science and industry worked together to design, create, homologate and test this innovative vehicle and its hydrogen fuel cell power unit. hydrogen fuel cell power unit .
The main objective of the STEYR FCTRAC project is sustainability. To achieve this, a BioH2 module was developed to complement the tractor, producing hydrogen from raw materials and biogenic waste. This process makes it possible to produce hydrogen with remarkable efficiency: between 15 and 16 kg of biomass are needed to produce hydrogen. biomass to generate the equivalent of 3.5 liters of diesel. The FCTRAC powertrain emits only water vapor, matching the power of its diesel counterparts without compromising performance.
Advanced features
The FCTRAC is equipped with a 14 kWh high-voltage battery and a 400 V electrical system, developing 95 kW, which is equivalent to the power of a diesel tractor. The fuel cell and electric propulsion system replaces the traditional diesel engine, while the fuel tank has been replaced by a hydrogen storage system. compressed hydrogen storage system and a high-voltage storage system and a high-voltage battery.
Importantly, STEYR FCTRAC has gained notable attention, particularly at Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna, where it was nominated in the “Mobility Technologies” category of the Austrian State Technology Awards. This award celebrates Austria’s most outstanding technical innovations, focusing on sustainable and carbon-neutral mobility technologies.
Marco Lombardi, head of Case IH and STEYR brands in EMEA, expressed his pride in the nomination and highlighted the importance of the project for the sustainable future of the agricultural industry. agricultural industry. .
Follow us on social networks and don’t miss any of our publications!
YouTube LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X
Source and photo: CNH