Steyr advances hydrogen technology
TU Wien, Austria’s leading technology university in Vienna, together with Steyr and other project partners, has launched the HYTRAC hydrogen agriculture research project. This combines a hydrogen-powered tractor with on-farm hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure, the so-called COMBHY. Objective of the project is to investigate a viable and scalable pathway towards low-carbon agricultural mechanization, while […]
Objective of the project is to investigate a viable and scalable pathway towards low-carbon agricultural mechanization, while maintaining the performance, operating times and flexibility required by modern farming operations. A real-world demonstration is planned at the Energy Hub Neusiedl, located in Neusiedl am See, Austria.
“With HYTRAC, we are looking beyond the tractor powertrain. Our goal is to demonstrate how hydrogen can become part of a fully integrated farm energy ecosystem, combining productivity, energy independence and reduced emissions in a solution that is both practical and scalable for agriculture,” says Franz Josef Silber, global product marketing at Steyr.
“The HYTRAC project enables us to analyze the interaction between hydrogen-powered agricultural machinery, energy infrastructure and farm operations under real-world conditions. This systems approach is essential to understanding how hydrogen technologies can contribute to future carbon abatement in agriculture,” states Johannes Konrad, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Powertrain and Automotive Technology at TU Wien.
Hydrogen-powered engine
Building on the Steyr FCTRAC, an innovative hydrogen fuel cell-powered concept tractor unveiled in July 2024, the HYTRAC project represents the next step in Steyr’s exploration of hydrogen-powered agricultural machinery. The new project builds on this foundation by combining the benefits of hydrogen power with an advanced electric power-split eCVT transmission developed by VDS. At its core is a hydrogen-powered tractor featuring an adapted and mature hydrogen internal combustion engine (H₂ ICE). The project aims to create a fully integrated smart energy system linking hydrogen production, storage and refueling infrastructure for maximum practicality and efficiency.
Based on a conventional Steyr Expert, the research tractor applies a direct-injection hydrogen internal combustion engine (H₂ ICE), designed to provide continuous power comparable to that of the donor vehicle while aiming at zero-emission standards. HYTRAC is designed to become a practical solution for farmers. Power is transferred to the wheels via a high-efficiency eCVT transmission, while implements can also be powered electrically by the tractor’s high-voltage battery, which is developed by Voltfactory. Benefits of the design include zero-emission operation at the point of use, high working efficiency and extended operating times, matching the needs of modern agriculture.
On-farm fuel production
The integrated project aims to enable practical on-farm hydrogen production, using existing energy generation resources including biomass from plant residues, wind and photovoltaics, supplying an on-farm hydrogen refueling station. As these sources are increasingly featured on many farms, with the incorporation of advanced hydrogen storage and compression technology, there is significant potential to advance energy production as part of routine farming operations. In addition, AI-optimized intelligent energy management, using load profiles, user data and predictive control integrated into this smart Energy Hub, will help ensure fuel production meets demand.
Steyr’s pioneering hydrogen-powered research tractor is designed for agriculture’s carbon abatement and focuses on real-world applicability and system integration. The project will demonstrate the value and scalability of the HYTRAC tractor and COMBHY hydrogen infrastructure by featuring them at the Energy Hub Neusiedl. Together, the system design delivers both carbon abatement and energy independence to farmers.
By combining vehicle development and intelligent energy management, the HYTRAC project demonstrates Steyr’s commitment to exploring practical pathways towards a sustainable future for agricultural mechanization.
