FCC

New Holland T6.180 Launches as First Methane Tractor

2025-08-01

New Holland’s T6.180 Methane Power tractor, the first fully methane-powered production tractor in the world, has now entered the US market following its debut in Europe. The tractor is now available at select dealerships, has been showcased at agricultural expos, and is part of a research project at Michigan State University.

The company says the tractor delivers the same power as its diesel version but with a 30 per cent reduction in running costs and 10–15 per cent lower CO? emissions. “Farmers using biodigesters could become energy self-sufficient by producing compressed biomethane to power the same tractor they use in the fields or to tend livestock with,” says Joe Bufford, Product Marketing Manager, New Holland.

The T6.180 can also operate on compressed natural gas (CNG), which is mainly methane, allowing flexibility for municipalities or operators near CNG infrastructure. It was developed as a cleaner alternative to diesel, offering more muscle than battery-electric tractors.

Its Fiat Powertrain (FPT) 6.7-litre, six-cylinder engine outputs 175 max boosted horsepower or 126 PTO horsepower. It operates more quietly with less vibration than diesel models, while replacing diesel injectors with gas injectors and spark plugs.

“Exhaust treatment is handled with a simple maintenance-free three-way catalyst,” Bufford explains. “This setup eliminates the need for diesel-specific aftertreatment technologies such as exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalytic reduction, and diesel exhaust fluid.”

Running on compressed biomethane, the tractor reduces particulate emissions by 98 per cent. It comes standard with a 49-gallon fuel capacity, with an optional 71-gallon range extender mounted at the front – a key visual difference from its diesel counterpart.