AGCO Leads ARHYSTOTE Consortium for Hydrogen Tractors

BEAUVAIS, France – AGCO Corporation., an agricultural machinery manufacturer’s, Engineering department in France is leading the newly formed ARHYSTOTE consortium. This group is focused on developing the next generation of smart hydrogen storage tanks for future hydrogen-powered tractors.

Mr. Frederic Cavoleau, Vice President of Engineering at the AGCO’s Beauvais facility in France, said, “This project forms an integral part of AGCO’s commitment to develop off-road solutions to sustainably meet farmers’ needs including the development of a Massey Ferguson hydrogen demonstrator tractor by 2026. The zero emissions (at exhaust) demonstrator tractor will be based on the characteristics of the conventional Massey Ferguson mid horse-power tractor platform and will leverage Massey Ferguson’s Eco-design approach, as well as the full potential of an AGCO Power engine.”

On-board storage is crucial for hydrogen-powered off-road machines, requiring high pressure to store enough hydrogen for duty cycles. To advance this technology, a consortium of French companies: AGCO, Cetim, IPC, IFTH, Raigi, and OliKrom, have partnered to develop innovative, high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks for agricultural tractors and other off-road heavy applications.

Project ARHYSTOTE will undergo eight steps, including analysis, tank design, and testing, to ensure feasibility and integration into a future Massey Ferguson hydrogen tractor. The project has secured €4.4 million in funding from the French State through ADEME as part of France 2030.

Mr. Thierry Lhotte, Vice-President & Managing Director Massey Ferguson Europe & Middle East, said, “Amongst other alternatives, expanding the use of hydrogen is a cornerstone of the needed energy transition. Hydrogen perfectly suits heavy-duty off-road vehicles requirements such as mid-horsepower tractors, keeping our global promise to offer Straightforward, Dependable and Accessible products and services to farmers feeding the world in a sustainable manner.”

Partners Contributions to the Project:

• AGCO: Leading the development of hydrogen combustion engines at its AGCO Power plant in Nokia, Finland.
• Cetim: Providing expertise in material design and manufacturing of high-pressure composite thermoplastic tanks.
• RAIGI: Specializing in the production of hydrogen liners, ensuring efficient and safe hydrogen storage.
• IFTH: Responsible for spinning thermoplastic formulations, integrating pigments, and implementing functional threads (e.g., sensors, detectors).
• CT-IPC: Developing innovative liners for hydrogen storage, focusing on sustainable solutions using recycled materials for eco-friendly, high-performance thermoplastic composites.
• OliKrom: Using its expertise in photochemistry to develop intelligent materials with calibrated properties, including hydrogen- and shock-sensitive pigments.