Zero-emission tractors

EOX Tractors is known for its zero-emission tractors. They run on batteries or hydrogen. So they don't use a traditional drivetrain with an electric motor. Instead, they have developed their own drivetrain, with motors in the wheels. Emission-free Network Infra held an interview with Tijmen Augustijn and Thomas Hieltjes from EOX. Read it here.

Introduce yourself and your company.
Thomas: I am responsible for the commercial part at EOX Tractors. The company is known for its zero-emission tractors. They run on batteries or hydrogen. So we do not use a traditional driveline with an electric motor. Instead, we have developed our own driveline, with motors in the wheels. That makes us a lot more efficient.

Tijmen: I am the director of EOX Tractors. I came on board here for a personal reason: it is such a unique technical product that should have the chance to mature. There is a lot of potential. The trick now is to get it together and make the product a success. I would like to contribute to that. 

EOX Tractors is a restart of H2Trac. In over 10 years, a lot of knowledge has been gained and technology has been developed. We are now building on that. We are doing this with a different strategy: in addition to developing, we now also produce and deliver the systems. Where previously the focus was mainly on the technology, we are now also building the company.

Electrification is now mainly taking place in smaller tractors and machines. In the larger segment, you hardly see any movement from manufacturers, apart from a few pilot projects or studies in which research is done into alternative fuels. The self-developed driveline makes our company unique. We started from a blank sheet of paper to develop the entire system. We therefore had complete freedom to fill it in as efficiently as possible. Now we have come to a special position with what we can put on the market: emission-free machines with high power.

Since when have you been a member of ENI and why did you become a member?
Thomas: In the infrastructure sector, there is a great need for zero-emission equipment. Within ENI, we hear how much still needs to be discovered, because development always runs ahead of legislation and regulations. This means that a standard still needs to be developed. You prefer to do this together with others: with customers or potential customers, but also with fellow machine builders. That should lead to regulations. If you look at the members of ENI and the activities that are being developed, then that ties in very nicely with what is relevant and what we as an organization, but also our users, benefit from.

Where do you currently stand in terms of zero-emission construction? 
Thomas: The development and construction of the tractors are our project. The question is: when will the customer use these tractors? At this moment we cannot yet elaborate on a specific construction project where we know the tractor will be used. However, we can share that the hydrogen tractor will be used for broad field tests in the coming period for activities that are very common in construction. In recent weeks we have started production of two fully electric EOX tractors, both of which will be active in the construction and infrastructure sector.

What challenges do you still face when it comes to zero-emission construction?
Thomas: when developing our tractors, we have as a starting point that they have to be operational all day long. It is a bit more difficult to estimate with a tractor, because the work is very diverse. That is also why a tractor is chosen: you can do everything with it. It is not without reason that we have both an electric and a hydrogen variant. In one place, the charging infrastructure is more accessible and in another place it is better to drive with hydrogen. In the city center, hydrogen is more difficult, because of the permits for its use.

Tijmen: there is constant contact with other suppliers about charging. We try to follow the market to see where the solution routes are. Electric tractors have to be charged at night. The question is how to store the energy that is present during the day at night. There are solutions available for that on the market. Otherwise we say: go for hydrogen. Choose to place hydrogen stacks locally. We quickly go ballistic when the word 'hydrogen' is mentioned, as if it is all dangerous. But what is it really about? How exciting is it really? Let us above all share knowledge, so that people can make the right choices, instead of choosing the safest scenario.

What has ENI been able to do for you so far in this regard?
Tijmen: the struggles you experience as a frontrunner are recognized by others. I liked that about the conversations. You are not alone. Together you find entrances and solutions. The problems are therefore not unique and even recognizable. We are here on a terrain with other ENI members, so we can easily discuss matters.

Thomas: We were able to establish new contacts. There are no concrete collaborations yet, but they are coming. During the VDL live session I had a nice conversation about battery packs and the different types of plugs that go with them. By exchanging knowledge in this way, you help each other and actually the entire industry.

Do you have any tips that we can work on in the near future?
Tijmen: perhaps we should draw up a guidelines document for governments to ensure that individual civil servants understand what is involved, so that the right choices are made about, for example, issuing permits.

Thomas: perhaps it is also good to have a whitepaper with positive practical experiences. Then you can prevent things that have already proven themselves in practice from simply being held back by ignorance. That we show: we can do it, it is not that exciting and we have already learned a lot.

What can you do for other ENI members?
Tijmen: We have a product that could be in high demand among other ENI members. We have the solution for heavy off-road vehicles. We can also help each other with technical problems, for example. It would be crazy if we were to invent the same thing separately everywhere. That does not fit in with the knowledge society of the Netherlands.

Thomas: It will help enormously to work together towards standardization. It is good to keep talking to fellow machine builders to see if you can share technology as well as knowledge.

It's 2026... Where do we stand as the Netherlands in terms of zero-emission construction?
In any case, a lot further than the rest of the world. In the Netherlands, we have proven that emission-free construction works and can be economically sustainable. Ultimately, that is also a drive. The problems that exist now can be solved in a relatively short period of time.