FUEL EFFICIENT POWER: SETTING THE NEW STANDARD

The SCR engine powered T9.700 tractor set a new record for drawbar fuel efficiency. New Holland claim that SCR emissions technology allows New Holland engines to run cleaner and cooler for better fluid efficiency, including diesel fuel and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

The T9.700 has no diesel particulate filter (DPF) requiring cleaning or regeneration and has a 600 hour oil change interval. When inspecting the figures quoted from the Nebraska test sheet we noted the unit tested was actually a Case IH Steiger 620. But in North America, the T9.700 is mechanically identical to the Tier-4B Steiger 620 however clad in blue livery.

DRAWBAR HORSEPOWER

Ballasted, the T9.700 produced a maximum drawbar pull of 289kN and maximum drawbar power of 441kW or 592hp in the old language. As a comparison, a John Deere 9620R delivered just over 410kW or 550hp at the drawbar and a Tier 4 Case IH Quadtrac delivered 419kW or just over 560hp at the drawbar.

The T9.700 delivers drawbar power via a heavy-duty driveline with a frame constructed using 12.7mm thick steel, heavier drivelines and 140mm diameter axles. These axles can carry up to 29,937kg of gross vehicle-operating weight with a structural steel fuel tank adds additional weight and strength to the chassis. 

FUEL EFFICIENCY

The 12.9litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine in the T9.700 delivered an impressive fuel efficiency of 257g/kW.h at 75% of pull at rated engine speed (2135rpm). But DEF burn was around 10.8% of fuel use at this output. At reduced engine speed (1469rpm) but while maintaining 75% of maximum drawbar power, this dropped to 227g/kW.h, DEF burn stayed at 10.5%

Again drawing comparison, the 14.9litre turbocharged and intercooled 6-cylinder in the John Deere 9620R burnt more fuel in manual mode at 269g/kW.h at 75% of pull at rated engine speed (2175rpm) but chewed through less DEF thank the New Holland at around 7% of fuel use. At reduced engine speed (1594rpm) but while maintaining 75% of maximum drawbar power, this dropped to 240g/kW.h with DEF burn maintained at 7%

NEBRASKA TEST LABORATORY

The Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL) is the officially designated tractor testing station for the United States and tests tractors according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) codes. Twenty-nine countries around the world adhere to the tractor test codes, with nearly all maintaining an active test station.