Ecomotive Solutions today introduced the first dual fuel biomethane application for Fendt Tier4 tractors. This represents the latest development in the Group's ongoing initiative to promote the use of biomethane in agricultural mechanisation, in collaboration with the Italian Biogas Consortium and Piccini Paolo Group.
The system provides for the use of natural gas or biomethane as an alternative fuel for diesel tractors, storing this gas in the transportable Ecomotive Solutions 'Bio CNG Pack', which effectively solves the issue of fuel autonomy in the field for agricultural vehicles.
Indeed, once the 'Bio CNG Pack' is connected, the tractor is ready to operate in the field using biomethane as fuel, regardless of whether this is produced locally, by the farm, drawn from a micro-station connected to the public network or, in the not-too-distant future, taken from a Bio LNG renewable liquefied biomethane station.
The tractor engine has been optimised using d-gid Diesel Dual Fuel technology, developed by Ecomotive Solutions: in real time, the d-gid ECU assesses how much diesel can be eliminated from the primary fuel injection to the tractor, to allow for a secondary injection of natural gas or biomethane, calculating the perfect amount to be added in order to ensure the smooth operation of the machine, without triggering losses of torque or power, or compromising the reliability of the engine in any way. The consistent replacement of diesel with biomethane serves to reduce the tractor's CO2 emissions, as well as slashing fuel operating costs via a process of self-consumption.
"Today represents an important milestone in this initiative, which was first presented in 2014 with the support of the Italian Biogas Consortium with a view to introducing the use of biomethane across the diesel-powered agricultural vehicles already working on our farms. We believe that we have achieved our goal, and have found the missing piece to the puzzle, fostering the self-consumption of locally-produced biomethane, and in doing so, promoting the delivery of "zero-mileage", short supply chain fuel to power diesel engines."
Now, on completion of the development and testing phases, the dual fuel tractor is set to be transferred to the headquarters of Ing.am. Ltd., one of the first Italian companies with a biomethane refuelling point, validating the efficacy of this new system in the field.
