When a producer visits a dealer to kick the tires of a new — or new to them — tractor or combine, reliability and efficiency are key.
That reliability begins with the powertrain.
Having been around for more than a century, internal combustion engines are likely to remain essential in farm machinery for many years to come, but it begs the question: What could come next?
FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) has dedicated some of its time and energy to answer that question. It’s been designing and manufacturing a variety of powertrains since 2005, as well as serving the agricultural equipment market.
Look under the hood of major farm equipment brands such as Case IH, New Holland and Claas and you’ll find an FPT engine at the heart of those machines.
“We have a strategy that we call the dual pillar strategy that is really focusing both on the internal combustion engine and in the improvement of the diesel,” Michele Lopez, product manager with FPT, said at the Agritechnica farm equipment show in Germany last fall.
While fossil fuel-powered engines have been the bread and butter for FPT since its inception, the company recognizes that research and development in alternatively powered engines could be a path to the future.
“There are definitely market niches where we can exploit this type of technology,” said Lopez.
On the show floor at Agritechnica, FPT displayed the proven design of its diesel-powered N67 engine. It can also run on hydro-treated vegetable oil, which reduces emissions by as much as 90 per cent.
According to the FPT website, more than two million N-series engines have been built across the agricultural sector since its inception in 2001.
Lopez said farm operations with an on-farm biomethane digester would be a “sweet spot” opportunity for its N67 engine, which can also run on natural gas.
FPT has also designed engines that can run on methane and other alternative fuels.
“Of course, it’s a new technology. There will be early adopters … but we’re there to support,” added Lopez.
“The message that we want to share with the OEMs and the farmers is, we got your back.”
With diesel being the workhorse fuel in the field for so many years, does FPT think producers are ready to transition to alternative fuels?
Lopez said curiosity for alternative power types is building in the sector. Hybrid engines are likely to have the most appeal for farmers in vineyard and orchard sectors.
He said the company’s F28 hybrid concept engine is a good example of the type of duties it could perform in those sectors. It operates in both low voltage and high voltage settings and could be capable of performing a variety of tasks.
FPT also had a modular battery pack concept called Forma on the show floor at Agritechnica.
Lopez said the company worked closely with OEMs to design the best shape to help position its battery pack concept as a power source for an electric-drive machine.
“This is something we really put our effort in the last years in terms of innovations to support again, the farmers with new technologies that are improving, both from a sustainability standpoint and a TCO (total cost of ownership) perspective,” said Lopez.
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