Tractormaker considers fuel cells
14 December 2002: US Tractor maker John Deere & Company and fuel cell developer Hydrogenics Corp are teaming up to develop a technology demonstrator fuel cell-powered Commercial Work Vehicle (CWV).
"The vehicle will serve as a technology guide as John Deere moves forward with electrification of its products," said Bruce Wood, director of the company's ePower Technologies group, which plans to test the fuel cell-powered CWV in the spring of 2003.
Deere is undertaking several electrification initiatives for its commercial and farm vehicles including the use of advanced battery technologies, diesel- and gasoline- hybrid electric technologies and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
The company believes use of the electric technologies would likely be implemented in off-road vehicles several years before widespread use of electric or hybrid-powered cars. This will occur because off-road equipment is most often managed as a fleet with centralized fueling and service.