Concept Machines

IC Bus unveiled the IC Electric Bus ChargE, a zero-emissions, fully operational electric school bus, in alliance with Volkswagen Truck and Bus, making this the second electric powertrain vehicle developed between the two companies. Unveiled at the 2017 National Association for Pupil Transportation Annual Conference and Trade Show, the new concept bus not only eliminates emissions, but in turn, cuts costs for owners without sacrificing diesel-like performance. Additionally, intuitive features and controls make this CE Series concept school bus a viable and user-friendly option for schools and companies looking to reduce their footprint in early 2019, when they are expected to become available.

At the Farm Progress Show, New Holland Agriculture demonstrated the latest development in its vision for the sustainable future of farming: a methane powered concept tractor that reimagines the design of this machine and reveals a connected future. The brand imagines the farm of the future as being completely energy independent: a farm that produces not only food, but also the biomass it needs to generate the energy it uses to run its operations and power its tractors and other machinery.

Farming is often portrayed as a relatively low tech industry, but new agricultural innovations are prompting what many feel is a new era of high tech farming where human labor is reduced to a minimum in favor of automated robotic machinery. Leading industry experts believe automated bots could be poised at the forefront of a high tech farming revolution, and as agricultural equipment manufacturers race to research the best fully-automated farmer tools, many farmers are left wondering exactly how new agricultural technology with robots will change the way they farm.

What's that you (don't) hear? It's the new fully electric EX2 mini excavator by Volvo Construction Equipment. Unfortunately, it is still a concept machine and may never reach production, but the coolness factor is still there and it's a step in the right direction for a sustainable future.

CASE Construction has unveiled its concept for the perfect meld between the compact and the powerful, the DL450 compact dozer loader - AKA “Project Minotaur”. With more than 30 patents pending, what sets this machine apart is a C-Frame dozer interface that pins directly into the chassis, taking stress of the loader arm, allowing for the smooth operation characteristic of a CTL with the easy transition to a dozer. Meant to serve the needs of contractors of all kinds, from landscapers to residential and commercial contractors, this machine is a great choice for contractors looking to reduce the number of vehicles deployed to a worksite.