New Holland launches the world’s first 100% electric commercial tractor at Agrishow

New product should reach the North American market in early 2025; in Brazil, there is still no forecast, as it depends on good connectivity in rural properties

New Holland, a company from the global CNH group, launched at Agrishow 2024, in Ribeirão Preto (SP), the world’s first 100% electric commercial tractor. The news was announced during a press conference held this Wednesday (1st) at the brand’s stand. The model is part of New Holland’s strategy to become a world leader in clean energy. In 2018, the company had already launched the planet’s first tractor powered by biomethane, which went on sale in Brazil last year.

The electric tractor should enter the North American market from the beginning of 2025. In Brazil, there is still no forecast, as it depends on some important factors, such as improvements in the connectivity of rural properties. Tactical marketing director, Juliano Perelli, explains that the vehicle was designed to work connected full-time. “We are working to ensure that the model reaches Brazil as quickly as possible”, he reveals to Agro Estadão.

With 75 horsepower, from the T4 series, the machine is powered by three batteries, which generate a total of 100 KWh, enough to operate for six to eight hours uninterruptedly. It also has nine cameras attached, which allow recordings to evaluate possible failures in crops. Three of these cameras are front-facing and capable of scanning people’s bodies. If the operator needs to get down to do manual work in series, the tractor recognizes him and follows him alone. And if a person other than the one who was scanned, an animal or object crosses in front, it stops automatically.

Drones

New Holland also announced its entry into the national spraying drone market. From October onwards, it is expected to offer two models: one with 30 liters and the other with 70 – this is the largest in the country in terms of load capacity. The examples on the market reach up to 50 liters.

Iago Oliveira, a specialist in the brand’s new business, tells Agro Estadão that, in addition to disseminating liquids, the equipment is prepared to work with solids – seeds and fertilizers. The technology runs on batteries.

Measuring 2.8 meters in diameter, it has rotating nozzles beneath each of the four propellers, which, according to Oliveira, allows uniformity of application and greater quality of the spray drop, a process helped by the propellers themselves, which agitate the plantation and give greater penetration power for the product.

Still in this field, the Guardian SP310F sprayer, which is also being launched at the fair, was the winner of the Machine Of The Year Award 2024/25, announced this Tuesday (30) at Agrishow. The choice is made by a commission of researchers from across the country, who evaluate technical and scientific issues, such as performance, sustainability and ability to promote industrial and social transformations.

Brazilian market

Brazil is the country that sells the most New Holland machines: 10% of the company’s tractors and 30% of its harvesters are purchased by farmers here. According to Eduardo Kerbauy, vice-president of New Holland for Latin America, the expectation for the coming years is to increase participation.

Despite the drop in the tractor and harvester market in Brazil in 2023, of around 10% to 15% compared to 2022, and a new downturn expected for this year, the company is betting on good prospects in the medium term. By 2030, total Brazilian grain production, New Holland’s main operating segment, is expected to reach 475 million tons – compared to 257 million in 2020/21.

“One in every four tractors sold in Brazil is now New Holland, as well as one in every three harvesters. It is the largest food producer in the world and, therefore, we believe that the market will continue to present very interesting numbers”, says Kerbauy.

Categories: AGRISHOW 2024

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