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As the agricultural machinery industry explores alternative fuel strategies, challenges remain in determining which energy sources are best matched to various farming operations -- from battery-electric systems to large machines powered by a wide spectrum of renewable fuel sources.

Logistical hurdles also persist, including the need for the infrastructure required to produce, transport and store alternative energy sources. In the case of the latter two, hurdles exist for both storage and delivery alternatives to the farm and then to staging locations for use around the farm.

AGCO is among the agricultural equipment manufacturers actively developing machinery solutions for alternative energy sources, including electric and renewable diesel.

DTN/Progressive Farmer spoke with Warren Morris, senior manager of product management-tractors at AGCO, about the company's alternative fuel initiatives and its plans to introduce its e100 electric tractor to targeted U.S. markets starting in 2026.

Here is that conversation. It has been edited for clarity.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: In terms of alternative fuels, will you tell us where AGCO is focusing?

Warren Morris: At AGCO, we're looking at a range of alternative fuels that can accommodate very different farmer needs across the globe. We're looking at power levels required, use cases and hours needed and the different solutions to accommodate those needs. At the lower horsepower end, with more limited hours, we're looking at electrification as a primary alternative. In fact, we've launched the Fendt e100 V Vario in Europe as our initial product for a fully battery electric tractor. We also have other projects in the works, not commercially available yet, that use other alternative fuels, including ethanol, biomethane and hydrogen.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: When you talk about an electrical range for tractors, what might be the top range? And when might the e100 come to North America?

Morris: With today's technology, the top range can stretch over 100 HP, but the technology may best fit in lower HP ranges where use cases are better aligned. The e100 is commercially available in Europe, and we will begin targeting strategic North American markets in 2026.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: Beyond electric tractors, would you talk about other fuels?

Morris: Sure. At AGCO, we are committed to researching and exploring what we call a "wider spectrum of power," when referring to the future fuels and technologies that will power our machines. There is tremendous variability in the alternatives that are available, depending on customer requirements, infrastructure, policy and other macro forces. As you grow in horsepower requirements where electrification may not work well, fuels such as ethanol and biomethane may be the best alternatives. At the highest horsepower requirements, we certainly still see a place for fossil diesel fuel. However, even at those highest power levels, fuels like renewable diesel may further evolve since it is a drop-in replacement without the need for infrastructure or machine modifications. Ultimately, the fuel choice will be made based on availability, affordability and acceptability to the farmer.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: You've mentioned renewable diesel. How is it different, or not, from biodiesel?

Morris: There are similarities in the types of feedstocks that are used. The differences start with how they're produced and the emission impact. So, the emission impact on renewable diesel is much greater than biodiesel. Renewable diesel has up to a 90% reduction in (greenhouse gas) emissions, while a B20 biodiesel has around a roughly 18% reduction. Particularly with a biodiesel, there's blending requirements, and those blending requirements can create service challenges, whereas the renewable diesel is a completely drop-in replacement with no engine requirements. The production process is pretty complex, but essentially, biodiesel is made through transesterification, where plant or animal oils and fats mix with an alcohol and a chemical catalyst, transforming the oils into a fuel called fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Renewable diesel, on the other hand, is produced through a hydrotreating process, which uses hydrogen to remove oxygen from fats and oils, creating a fuel similar to regular diesel. This process is similar to what's done in oil refineries.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: Massey Ferguson is looking to introduce a hydrogen powered tractor next year, correct?

Morris: I can't confirm the timing, but earlier this year, AGCO announced a project to manufacture smart hydrogen storage tanks, specifically designed to be integrated into a future Massey Ferguson hydrogen tractor.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: Hydrogen power in the U.S. raises the same issues as other fuels in terms of supply and storage?

Morris: That's exactly right. On the hydrogen front, you're looking at a lot of challenges. The infrastructure piece, the storage and the handling are some of the key challenges. I think that we're much further away on large-scale adoption of hydrogen.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: What alternative fuels have the greatest potential in the U.S.?

Morris: Beyond biodiesel and renewable diesel, I would say ethanol and biomethane are, again, top contenders. But there's still a focus on electrification as another means of power, especially in the lower-HP categories.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: Does AGCO-Fendt have its eyes on an EV tractor, something larger than the e100?

Morris: There's opportunity to grow electrification, both up and down in scale. It could expand beyond the roughly 70 horsepower, and then certainly down in power as well.

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DTN/Progressive: In terms of engines and engine components, what are AGCO's biggest challenges? You've talked about renewable diesel as a pretty simple drop in fuel and then an electrical tractor on the other end of the horsepower scales. What's in the middle?

Morris: There is work ongoing today that will help ease the transition into these future fuels. But when it comes to the types of changes, it could be things like changes to cylinder heads and, obviously, fuel systems. But I would say the general infrastructure is in place where we're trying to minimize the impact to the engine itself. For instance, the AGCO Power CORE engine has the latest in internal combustion and engine technology and was designed from the ground up to support alternative fuels.

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DTN/Progressive Farmer: OK. What would AGCO's overall message to farmers be about new fuels?

Morris: AGCO's current role is continuing to invest in a variety of fuels because farmers are uncertain about what may be the winning fuel. There are a lot of choices coming. There's a lot of uncertainty about which one -- or ones -- may be the winner when the dust settles. From an AGCO perspective, we're continuing to invest in these different fuel types, making machines ready to receive them. AGCO also has a role and responsibility to educate farmers about our findings.

Dan Miller can be reached at dan.miller@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @DMillerPF

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