Another prototype on the New Holland Agritechnica stand was its hybrid telehandler, said to be an industry first combination of electric and natural gas. The unit is built around a standard New Holland chassis at present, offering lift heights of between 7-9m and maximum capacities up to 4,200kg.
It uses an electric drivetrain, with two motors totalling 70kWh, which the company says will provide up to four hours of operation on medium to heavy-duty tasks, and around six hours of autonomy on lighter duties. The key benefit of this design is that the ground speed and engine speed, and hydraulic power are completely decoupled, enabling the operator to find the most efficient balance for the task at hand.
This is linked to a four-cylinder FPT methane gas engine, which produces 100hp and runs at a set speed to recharge the electric system for up to 10hr of operational time.
At present, the gas tanks and electric drive have been integrated into the existing chassis – similar to the original methane tractor prototype, and so capacities aren’t finalised, but the machine will hold a total 140 litres of methane, split across two tanks.
According to the company, field tests have shown a 70% saving in energy consumption compared to diesel machines, as well as an increase in performance of 30%.