Hybrid Tractors on the way

[Rudevette]

That's the funniest thing I've seen all day.

There has been some advancement in diesel-electric technology and some advancements in electricity delivery in the last 10-20 years, but not much of that applies to DC motors. The control and functionality of DC motors is much improved, but it comes at a maintenance cost that is unrealistic for a farm tractor. The improvements have really been in the diesel engine part of the combination and in the frequency drive part of the electrical end. Either way if you start telling somebody that they are buying a farm tractor with the maintenance level of DC motors and the technical expertise required to deal with the issues that arise with the VF drive they are going to see both issues as negative selling points.


-Justin

 

[AKfish]

Try the new Pelosi GTXxi SS/RT Sports Edition...

YouTube - The 2012 Pelosi GTxi SS/RT Sport Edition

Whoee.... !!!! Laugh MAO! But.... was that Rush in the red Pelosi??

To be clear -- I have no idea what the tractor technology will be in 75-100 years. And I'm not suggesting that DC motors or AC motors or ANY electric motors are the only way to the tractors of the future.

I'm fairly confident, however - that diesel tractors as we know them - won't be the primary vehicle in use in 75-100 years.

AKfish

 

[Rudevette]

Boy you hit the nail on the head there. I have to completely agree. It will be interesting to see what comes in the future. I have a fleet of old M's and H's and back in their day I can always imagine people being as proud of the day they ordered their new H as I was the day I ordered my CT235. I doubt my CT235 will be just as hard of a worker in 50 years as it is today though. (unlike my M and H....those things are just as capable today as when they were new)


-Justin

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

New Holland just got a bunch of awards for a working prototype of farm tractor that runs off a fuel cell.

 

[kenstrac]

If I remember right didn't International have a working fuel cell prototype in the 60-70's

 

[Rudevette]

Hydrogen fuel cells have been around for a long time and are easy to build. The problem with hydrogen is that once you have it made you need to use it right away or it builds pressure, then comes out of the blowoff valve and is gone. The amount of energy it takes to make hydrogen in a quantity large enough to be useful is a little restrictive too. I personally believe that fuel cell technology along with solar collection to aid in some of the energy required to run the process is where the future of tractors will lie.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think you have it nailed. Water: the fuel of the future. Either solar or nuclear power to make the hydrogen from the water and fuel cells to convert it back to electricity.
This will only happen when the big oil companys suck the last drop of oil from the ground. They spend millions to keep there fossil fuel uses going and lobby our illustrious political leaders to keep the fuel consumption high in our vehicles so they can sell more oil. Why does the same car in Europe get 40 MPG while in USA it gets 25-27. Because their leaders demanded it and legislated it 10 years ago that the average had to be 40. I think it is going to 50MPG in 2010. In this arena, the USA is 20 years behind the times.

 

[aczlan]

Why does the same car in Europe get 40 MPG while in USA it gets 25-27. Because their leaders demanded it and legislated it 10 years ago that the average had to be 40. I think it is going to 50MPG in 2010. In this arena, the USA is 20 years behind the times.

There are 4 main reasons (IMO) that European cars get better MPG:

1. Smaller engines (They get taxed by displacement in many European countries, that's why 4 cylinder engines are so common over there)
2. Modern turbodiesel Engines (Big MPG gain here, compare a Prius which is lucky to get 40-45 mixed mpg (according to my dads neighbor who has one, they live in a small town and have to drive at least 15 miles @55mph to get anywhere) to a Jetta TDI which gets 45-50 (according to my dad who has put tens of thousands of miles on the '03 he has in the last couple or years)
3. Less bells and whistles (a US spec car comes stock with more bells and whistles (ie: power everything) than a Euro spec car, this makes for a lighter car, lighter cars get better MPG)
4. Smaller cars (they don't require such large cars)

 

[Rudevette]

And don't forget that those euro cars getting that kind of mileage out of their little diesels will not pass US emissions. We have the strictest emissions regulations in the world by a long shot. We are more worried about tailpipe sniffer testing in this country than we are about fuel consumption.

That is in addition to the 4 brilliant points made by aczlan.


-Justin