STEYR and Tu Wien recently unveiled the FCTRAC, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered STEYR concept tractor based on a standard STEYR 4140 Expert CVT tractor.

The FCTRAC was developed in collaboration between engineers at the CNH tractor plant in St. Valentin and TU Wien as part of a national research project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and led by the Institute of Powertrains and Automotive Technology (IFA) at TU Wien.

The STEYR FCTRAC hydrogen fuel cell tractor project aim was end-to-end sustainability, via a BioH2Module developed to complement the tractor. This produces hydrogen from biogenic raw materials and residues, meaning 15-16 kg dry biomass is needed to produce hydrogen equivalent to around 3.5 l of Diesel.

The power unit only emits water vapor, and there is no compromise in terms of power; the tractor meets the demanding requirements of agricultural work in the same manner as a diesel-powered equivalent.

The FCTRAC, which has a 14 kWh high-voltage battery and 400 V electrical system, develops 95 kW, matching its diesel equivalent. The fuel cell and electric drive systems take the place of the diesel engine, while the fuel tank is replaced by a compressed hydrogen storage system and a high-voltage battery.

Resources

• Gubin, V. et al. (2023). FCTRAC and BioH2Modul – A Way to Zero Emission Mobility in Agriculture. In: Heintzel, A. (eds) Antriebe und Energiesysteme von morgen 2022. ATZLive 2022. Proceedings. Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-41435-1_8