Deere E98 prototype tractor gets thumbs up from test drivers

"We were looking for a lower carbon intensity fuel at the time, but we knew we needed a fuel that provided value to our customers' operations. We started working on ethanol... and we've had engines in labs for three and a half, probably four years now."

"This engine is different. It performs. It does well. Customers, when they stepped out of the cab after running it for a day, they were like, 'Wow, that is not what I expected. This tractor performed phenomenal.'"

"The prototype tractor is powered by John Deere's nine-litre engine platform, long recognized in large agriculture for durability and uptime. Engineers retained the core diesel architecture and converted it to spark ignition, with modifications primarily from the cylinder head up."

John Deere showcased its E98 ethanol engine tractor prototype at Commodity Classic, representing a development project initiated in 2020. The prototype uses Deere's nine-litre engine platform, modified from diesel to spark ignition architecture while retaining core durability features. Rated in the mid-300 horsepower range, the machine approaches the upper end of the 8R lineup. The initiative addresses dual objectives: reducing carbon intensity while providing practical farm value. Grower feedback has been positive, with operators surprised by performance capabilities that exceed expectations from historical gas tractor experiences. The project supports ethanol demand amid corn oversupply concerns, benefiting both growers and the biofuels sector. Field validation continues with three additional tractors operating in targeted U.S. states.

Read at Realagriculture