Hydrogen powered tractors

February 2013 Motion Control & Drives

New Holland Agriculture’s NH2 hydrogen powered tractors are the world’s first tractors to be powered by hydrogen, “These new hydrogen powered tractors have been designed to help farmers cope with the increasing costs of fuel,” says Peter Askew, managing director of New Holland Agriculture South Africa.

“We believe hydrogen technology will give farmers an independent supply of energy, which can be used in a wide variety of vehicles and applications, giving them greater control over the future of their business. The new hydrogen powered NH2 tractor replaces the traditional combustion engine with hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity.

Compressed hydrogen drawn from the tank on the tractor reacts in the fuel cell with oxygen drawn from the air, to produce water and electrons. These are harnessed in the form of an electric current, which drives electric motors to power the tractor’s drivetrain and auxiliary systems.

The fuel cell generates less heat than an internal combustion engine. There is a consistent output of power and no polluting nitrogen oxides, soot particles or carbon dioxide are produced. This has added health benefits when working in confined spaces.

New Holland’s EasyDrive transmission system offers quieter operation, improved power transmission and great fuel efficiency. The flexible transmission gives the operator high levels of control and features useful driver aids for maximum productivity. An anti-stall facility can disengage the drive before the engine stalls, which is ideal when pushing a loader into heavy material, or to overcome a particularly high working load.

For more information contact Peter Askew, New Holland Agriculture South Africa, +27 (0)11 922 2300, [email protected], www.nhsa.co.za

Further reading:

World’s largest production capacity mine hoist
Motion Control & Drives
BB has been selected by global mining company BHP to deliver, install and commission three friction hoists and a further electrical system for a Blair service hoist to its Jansen Potash project in Canada.

Read more...

---

Innomotics showcases efficient motors and drives at Hannover Messe
Motion Control & Drives
Innomotics recently presented its innovations and solutions for a sustainable industry at Hannover Messe 2025. Highlights included a novel Active Vibration Control System, IE6 energy efficiency class motors, and new product partnerships.

Read more...

---

New torque sensors for fastening applications
Spero Sensors & Instrumentation Motion Control & Drives
Sensor Technology, a global leader in innovative torque and load measurement solutions, has launched its latest advancement in torque sensing technology.

Read more...

---

Versatile variable speed drive for efficient motor control
iTek Drives Motion Control & Drives
The Invertek Optidrive is a versatile variable speed drive designed for efficient motor control in various applications.

Read more...

---

Servo motor for demanding and dynamic applications
Festo South Africa Motion Control & Drives
The EMMT-AS servo motor is ideal for demanding and dynamic applications, and is known for its excellent controllability and path accuracy for precise positioning tasks.

Read more...

---

The future of motion control
SEW-EURODRIVE Motion Control & Drives
MOVI-C from SEW-EURODRIVE is a cutting-edge modular automation system integrating controllers, drives and software for seamless motion control.

Read more...

---

Affordable robotics and automation
igus Motion Control & Drives
Visitors should prioritise a visit to the igus South Africa stand, where some exciting and affordable innovations in robotics and automation will be on display.

Read more...

---

Hazardous area solutions
Extech Safety Systems Motion Control & Drives
SEW-EURODRIVE is revolutionising industrial automation with advanced gear units, decentralised drives and the energy-efficient MOVIGEAR system.

Read more...

---

Advancing industrial automation with cutting-edge drive technology
SEW-EURODRIVE Motion Control & Drives
SEW-EURODRIVE is revolutionising industrial automation with advanced gear units, decentralised drives and the energy-efficient MOVIGEAR system.

Read more...

---

Actuator with integral controller
SMC Corporation South Africa Motion Control & Drives
The new EQ series of slide-type and rod-type electric actuators from SMC feature a fully integrated controller, providing a simpler to set up, easier to use, space-saving solution that simultaneously helps users to save energy and reduce CO₂ emissions.

Read more...

---