New Holland’s Methane Power prototype tractor wins prestigious design award
Together, they identify and emphasise the world’s most important examples of sustainable design, with the aim of heightening awareness among the general public about the best efforts of global companies to adopt sustainable design.
From architecture and landscape to urban-planning projects, products, packaging and
graphic designs, the institution receives hundreds of submissions from around the
world. For 2023, projects from over 32 nations were granted Green Good Design 2023
awards, representing the world’s most important manufacturers and design firms and leading Fortune 500 corporations focused on more sustainable design and environment worldwide.
The T7 Methane Power is the world’s first LNG tractor, which builds on the heritage of the commercialised T6 Methane Power, fuelled by compressed natural gas, but this new model will more than double the autonomy of New Holland’s current methane-powered products, according to the company.
Founded in Chicago in 1950 by Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, the Good Design programme remains the oldest and most important design awards programme worldwide. This is the 15th year of this very specialised edition of the original Good Design programme and it is judged by a jury of distinguished design professionals and leading industry specialists, recognising outstanding examples of green design.
CNH Industrial’s in-house design team created a tractor with a new ‘clean blue’ colour and an aesthetic designed to accent the tractor’s use of sustainable alternative fuels.
Inspired by nature itself, the all-new exterior features fit with the brand’s new signature design style, which can be seen in the reimagined bonnet with the illuminated New Holland iconic leaf, according to New Holland.
A brand-inspired approach to lighting has been adopted, with the New Holland’s leaf lending its form to the lighting design. From illuminated bonnet and C-pillar leaves to the LED running strip which wraps around the cab’s rear roof, lighting has been transformed from a function to a core design element.
The tractor’s cab incorporates a full-length skydome roof for enhanced visibility and a greater sense of space. Operating features include the innovative SideWinder Ultra armrest, the new larger IntelliView 12 touchscreen, and the CentreView fixed hub steering wheel-mounted display, combining to make operation intuitive.
Ergonomically-shaped seats in leather and Alcantara, with contrasting stripe and embroidered logo, look sporty but provide the comfort and support operators need.
New Holland says that the T7 Methane Power LNG prototype is a step forward on the path towards its carbon-neutral strategy. It can be powered by liquefied biomethane sourced from livestock manure and slurry, delivering better than carbon-zero operation.