First industrial introduction of advanced composite materials in zero-emission tracked agricultural machinery

PROJECT COST:

1 336 176 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

668 088 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

In the coming years, the agricultural industry will face three main challenges: increasing food demand, climate change and greenhouse gas reduction, and labor shortages. One possible solution is the use of new electric, autonomous, lightweight, compact, and efficient agricultural vehicles.

To enter the agricultural market, an electric or hybrid tractor must have maximum autonomy. Therefore, as with electric cars, structural weight-reduction solutions need to be integrated. The use of composite materials as a lightweighting solution is well established in aerospace and is beginning to be applied in land transportation. However, their use for structural components remains very rare in the agricultural sector. One of the main challenges is validating the structural resistance to external hazards such as rock impacts, dried mud accumulation, and exposure to pesticides.

This project will include the design and fabrication of a structural composite component, material characterization, development of the manufacturing process, and validation under real-world conditions. A life cycle analysis will be conducted to quantify the benefits of this technology for this new application.

By reducing the risks associated with adopting composites in its products, CAMSO (a Michelin subsidiary), the recipient of this new technology, will accelerate the development of its new products and become a leader in the manufacturing of lightweight track systems. By developing a local supply chain, CAMSO will also contribute to greenhouse gas reduction and economic growth in Quebec.