PHOTO: JOHN DEERE
PHOTO: MARK PASVEER
ENERGY TRANSITION ▶▶▶
Gradual switch from diesel to gas and electricity
BY FRITS HUIDEN T
he end is nigh for the diesel engine. Electrical power in particular is be- coming increasingly popular in agri- culture, and not for just the self-driv-
ing manure and feed shovelling robots in stalls or a forklift truck in the store. These lightweight machines require relatively little power and remain close to the mains outlet, so they were also the first to become electric. Now the technology exists for the large, heavi- er equipment. Various electric trial models have already been launched. They tend to be mini-loaders and feed mixing trucks, such as the self-propelled E-truck from Siloking. One of the reasons for making them electrically pow- ered, according to Siloking dealer Reiner Huslage, is the short periods of use every day. After all, modern diesel machines need to come to operating temperature first before they reach the right diesel-AdBlue ratio that enables them to meet the strict emissions requirements. Even among earth-moving machinery, we are seeing the first electrically
Hybrid and methane-powered engines seem to be the most logical successors to the diesel engine. The fully electric drive is on the way too, though that is some time off yet. Diesel’s days in agriculture are numbered. We analyse what the near future holds.
powered cranes and loaders. The automotive world is almost always the forerunner to agriculture and is viewed with some envy.
From hybrid to hydrogen While everyone agrees that conventional fossil fuels have had their day as the primary energy source, the experts have no idea what will happen for tractors and when. After all, they must remain usable at full capacity over long periods. A day’s ploughing, land level- ling or transporting loads of several tonnes requires more than current alternative technology allows. In summary, there are four options: hybrid, methane, electric and hydrogen. This is also the order in which experts believe that they will begin to be used in agriculture.
The SESAM trial model presented by John Deere at the SIMA show features an enormous bat- tery pack that allows the tractor to run for an hour at full capacity.
46 ▶ FUTURE FARMING | 1 November 2018
Hybrid the way to start Hybrid technology – a diesel engine that is supported by an electric engine – is the most easiest within reach, according to Willem Van der Zwaan from John Deere. “Diesel alterna- tives are simply still too expensive. Diesel is still the most efficient. Hybrid technology with an electric engine or generator could help the diesel engine to maintain revs more consistently, for example.” John Deere itself offered the E Premium, in which a generator drove the internal components, such as the radiator fan. Two hundred were sold, but its successor, the 6210 RE never went into pro- duction due to lack of interest. “When it comes to external power, it’s a bit of a chick- en-and-egg situation. Who wants to invest in a tractor to drive electrical machinery if there is no decent machinery available? And vice-versa.” John Deere is focusing fully on electric drives, like the SESAM tractor that appeared at the SIMA agriculture show. The fully electric trac- tor features a huge battery pack that allows it to drive for an hour at full capacity. The prob- lem is that electricity requires a great deal of storage capacity and space, and battery packs are still too bulky and expensive. John Deere recently unveiled the alternative: a tractor on a long extension cable, which winds in and out depending on the distance to the power socket. “There is a great deal of enthusi- asm about electrification in Germany. That’s also where the BMW I3 series was developed, as well as this John Deere on a reel. It’s a pilot project,” adds Mr Van der Zwaan. Tjörven Van de Velde of Case IH also believes electrical power still has its problems. “I can see it breaking through more easily in the
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