New Holland gives farmers the biodiesel choice

As 'Biofuels Day' approaches on 15th April, a date when, by law, all fuel companies in the UK will have to replace 2.5 per cent of their annual fossil fuel sales with biofuels, New Holland has confirmed its commitment to the promotion of biodiesel in agriculture.

For farmers interested in using this alternative fuel and taking advantage of the environmental and commercial benefits, New Holland offers the widest range of biodiesel compatible agricultural equipment on the market, with both mechanical and common rail injection New Holland engines able to run on pure biodiesel.

Biodiesel is naturally carbon neutral, sulphur free and high in oxygen, which produces a cleaner burn and does not contribute to 'acid rain'; high sulphur content in rain that can cause decomposition in crops. However, biodiesel does have higher levels of nitrous oxide. This increased NOx level is counteracted by New Holland's advanced exhaust gas recirculation technology that enables biodiesel to combust more efficiently.

New Holland's extensive biodiesel test fleet comprises more than 70 combines and tractors, which have completed in excess of 75,000 hours running on pure biodiesel without any problems. The biodiesel programme has been the foundation for a series of developments that has seen the manufacturer announcing broader and broader support for biodiesel while ensuring machine reliability and performance are not compromised.

New Holland stresses the importance of using biodiesel produced to the recognised to the EN 41214 standard, and is following with interest the research into second generation biofuels produced from non-food crops, which addresses the issue of biofuels sustainability and opens new opportunities for its customers in developing countries.