Fendt has revealed that two prototype hydrogen fuel cell tractors will be moving on to farms in Bavaria, southern Germany, this spring to help evaluate their performance and the practicalities of using hydrogen as a fuel.

The two machines are being supplied as part of Fendt’s involvement in the H2Agrar project researching how a system of hydrogen supply for agriculture might be structured.

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At a hydrogen summit organised by the Bavarian state ministry responsible for energy, minister Hubert Aiwanger said he viewed hydrogen as an important future fuel solution in agriculture and forestry.

He noted that these sectors can themselves supply “green” electricity for hydrogen production from solar photovoltaics, wind, biogas and forest residues.

“The crowning glory, of course, is when farmers themselves use hydrogen for their tractors and other agricultural machinery,” he said.

One of the aims of the H2Agrar project is to investigate the usability and performance potential of hydrogen for agricultural machinery.

Fendt has not officially revealed details, but the prototypes are thought to be based on 700 Vario platforms with electric motors for driving the stepless transmission and hydraulics pump.

Hydrogen fuel consumption will be recorded when the tractors are engaged in everyday tasks under real-life conditions on the two farms.

This will help determine the technical requirements of a suitable hydrogen supply infrastructure for agriculture, says Fendt, and support further investigations into reducing carbon dioxide emissions from agricultural vehicles.