Internal combustion engine is at the crossroads with many alternative routes forward. Still, the viability of future low-emission technologies as well will ultimately depend on the ability to transfer the energy of whatever fuel is used to work as efficiently as possible. That’s why the basic idea behind the CORE platform by AGCO Power is to make the most out of both present and future fuels.
The CORE75 engine won the prestigious “Engine of the year” award in 2023 for its economy. The same expertise that makes the most economical diesel engine on the market will also help create better engines for the alternative fuels of the future.
Whether diesel will be replaced by hydrogen or something else will depend on market as well as regulatory developments.
“We have hydrogen technology ready, but the market is not yet ready,” says Ismo Hämäläinen, who oversees the development of powers sources utilizing alternative fuels. “That’s why we currently favor HVO fuels in our R&D work, as they can directly replace diesel, so our customers do not have to compromise performance while radically cutting emissions.”
Tank full of wind power?
Hydrogen can also be used to create a synthetic eFuel, which according to trials with Neste and others is also ideal for CORE engines. As most of the electricity produced in Finland is carbon neutral, Finland is an ideal place to research hydrogen production, for example to make use of renewable surplus electricity.
“Standards for these fuels have not yet been established, but if they are similar to today’s diesel then our engines are ready for it,” says Hämäläinen. “Research results like this are important because they will enable a carbon-neutral future.”
Hybrid economy
A working hydrogen engine concept based on CORE engine was presented at Agritechnica 2023, utilizing electric drivetrain components in a mild hybrid design. Particularly in intermittent work, the hybrid powertrain brings savings by allowing the
engine to always operate in the optimum power range.
“We analyze and simulate a wide array of different technologies, such as a series hybrid that requires a battery pack,” says Ismo Hämäläinen. “CORE gives free rein to development, with the ultimate goal of lowering the customer life cycle costs.”
Experience turns challenging into simple
An engine with all its peripheral components is a complex whole, where everything affects everything. AGCO Power’s research and development activities, which have continued and evolved throughout its 80-year history, contribute to creating the best performing whole available today.
“When you continuously wrestle with difficult things, they become easy at some point. What was challenging ten years ago may no longer be so,” Hämäläinen concludes.