Hydrogen-powered tractor market to double by 2030

THE GLOBAL HYDROGEN-POWERED tractor market – valued at $1.45bn last year – is projected to more than double over the coming years: reaching $3.86bn by 2030.

That’s according to a report published by Cognitive Market Research. The boost comes from the increasing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the rising modernisation of agricultural activities, and the high applicability of hydrogen fuel. For instance, US-based alternative fuel technology and electric vehicle company Cenntro Electric Group has launched its first hydrogenpowered class 8 semi-tractor, the LMH864.

At the agricultural robotics fair World FIRA in Toulouse, France, last month, French manufacturer EXXACT Robotics stood out

CNH brands to increase their automation offerings

FOLLOWING THE ACQUISITION of Raven Technologies, CNH Industrial is upping its offer in the fields of automation and autonomy. Both Case IH and New Holland will benefit.

The target, it says, is “to automate the entire farming fleet”.

The autonomous T4 Electric Power tractor, which was developed in association with the small California-based start-up Monarch Tractor, is slated for market release later this year.

Another development is the Driver Assist Harvest Solution system for tractors which, according to the company, “keeps the tractor perfectly in sync with the combine harvester when unloading grain – giving the combine operator seamless control over the unloading process”.

CNH is also expected to launch a Driverless Tillage Solution, which is built on technology imported from Raven as well as the substantial autonomous technology CNH had already developed in-house.

from the crowd of electric-powered robots with its TRAXX Concept H2 (pictured), the first autonomous hydrogen-powered straddle tractor for vineyards.

Major findings in the Cognitive Market Research study include:

● Increasing adoption of hydrogen fuel in various industries such as automotive, chemical, and others, coupled with increasing government initiatives to clean energy, are creating potential revenue opportunities for players in the hydrogen-powered tractor market;

● Increasing modernisation of agricultural activities, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and high applicability of hydrogen as a fuel are factors expected to drive the growth of the global hydrogen-powered tractors market in the coming year;

● Among the installations, the hydrogen-powered tractor market segmentation includes retrofit and OEM. The OEM segment is expected to hold the highest share of 69.4% and maintain it over the forecast period. However, the retrofit segment is estimated to register a significant revenue share of 30.6% and the highest CAGR of 15.4% over the forecast period.

College buys electric UTV from dealer

BORDERS COLLEGE HAS become the first college in Scotland to purchase and deploy a fully electric utility-terrain electric vehicle.

The brand new ‘HiSun Beast 4x4 utilityterrain vehicle’ is now in service at the college’s Newtown St Boswells Campus, with students and staff using the Beast on a daily basis to carry out practical learning activities as part of a number of courses at the campus, which include modern agriculture, service engineering, gamekeeping and landscaping.

Purchased from local company Henderson Grass Machinery as part of the college’s ongoing ‘drive’ towards sustainability, the top-ofthe-range Sector 15 kW is seen as an everyday workhorse, with plenty of power and torque to tackle the most challenging of terrains.

College lecturer Dave Black, one of the staff instructing students on the safe use of the ‘Beast’, commented: “As a college that always strives to be as sustainable as possible, we first came across the idea of an electric all-terrain vehicle (ATV) when we were delivering ATV training on Knoydart, and again on the Isle of Ghia, where both communities were starting to use electric ATVs.

“After evaluating and testing a number of electric options we found that the HiSun vehicle met the needs of the college more than the others.”

Jail for owner of crash tractor with defective brakes

The importance of brake and trailer testing was brought to the fore at a recent High Court case in Scotland.

Farmer Andrew Grant was jailed for a year after breaching health and safety laws – he was found guilty of failing to maintain a tractor and trailer that crushed and killed a 60-year-old motorist.

The accident also seriously injured one of his workers, who was driving the defective vehicle, and two other drivers.

The brakes on the tractor and the trailer, which was loaded with a 13-tonne digger, failed to slow the vehicles on a steep hill on the outskirts of Glasgow and crashed into other vehicles.

During his trial in Livingston, Grant had been facing an accusation of culpable homicide, but a jury acquitted him of that charge.

Zetor joins BAGMA as associate member

BAGMA HAS A new associate member – tractor supplier Zetor UK.

Richard Jenkins, BAGMA’s business development manager, met with Nigel Wilson, managing director of Zetor UK Ltd, at the recent West Country Farming and Agricultural Show in the Westpoint Arena, Exeter.

Although BAGMA is a dealer trade association, it does have several associate members, including service providers, training companies and industry partners.

Nigel explained: “The value of such organisations can easily be overlooked; we feel it is important to engage and support in all progressive activities that help gain our mutual industries the recognition they deserve. Here at Zetor UK Ltd we are really enjoy ing something of a renaissance peri od, with the straightforward HP tractor being something of a vogue product, this has led to an increase in new dealer interest from several key areas. We are continually looking to expand our network with the right partners and pride ourselves on making business easy, also having our UK HQ and parts operation is a great benefit for our brand in the UK.

“We look forward to being an active member of BAGMA and indeed have always supported the great work done by the association.”