Hydrogen Fuel Cells Enter the Field: Kubota’s Unmanned Tractor Debuts in Osaka

Ever thought about what a tractor looks like without a driver’s seat? That’s exactly the challenge Kubota Corp. tackled at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, where they debuted the globe’s first unmanned, hydrogen fuel cells-powered farm tractor. This 100-hp machine runs for up to half a day on a single hydrogen fill—and emits nothing but water—merging clean energy with autonomy to help solve labor gaps and hit climate goals in one fell swoop.

A Seat-Free Future Takes Shape

Picture this: a tractor with no cab, no steering wheel, no seat—just sensors, cameras and AI doing all the heavy lifting. At 4.4 m long, 2.2 m wide and 2.3 m tall, it can plant, weed and scout fields thanks to obstacle-detection systems that never blink. And according to Isamu Kazama, the Kubota engineer behind the project, you can pilot it from miles away over any network—basically an agricultural drone on treads.

Zero-Emission Power with Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Under the hood sits cutting-edge fuel cell technology that mixes hydrogen with oxygen from the air to generate electricity. The upshot? Silent, smooth propulsion with only water vapor puffing out the back—no diesel clatter or soot. Tanks tucked beneath the chassis hold enough hydrogen for roughly eight hours of fieldwork, dovetailing perfectly with surging investment in hydrogen production facilities around the globe.

Bridging Labor Gaps and Earth-Friendly Goals

Farming regions in Japan and around the world are dealing with graying crews and not enough hands on deck. Ditching the need for an onboard operator means one technician can keep tabs on multiple tractors from a command bunker. The perks? Pumped-up productivity, safer night runs or work in rough weather, and a solid dent in on-farm carbon emissions—right in line with decarbonization goals.

Market Hurdles and Hydrogen Infrastructure

Of course, game-changing gear often comes with sticker shock. Early estimates put this hydrogen tractor about 40% pricier than its diesel cousin up front. Plus, while city hydrogen stations are popping up, countryside refueling spots are still few and far between. That said, with governments and big players chasing green hydrogen ambitions, expect more pumps to spring up closer to the fields—turning refills from a pain point into just another pit stop.

Ripple Effects and New Standards

Putting driverless rigs into the dirt will raise all sorts of questions about safety rules and data privacy. Who takes the heat if an autonomous plow veers off course? Regulators in Europe and Japan are already scribbling down the rulebook for agri-robots. Kubota’s real-world trials will feed vital insights into those standards—clearing the path for more autonomous, zero-emission machinery in the field.

Charting the Road Ahead

In the coming year, Kubota plans to put these tractors through their paces across Japan before shipping them off to Europe and North America, where sustainable farming is more than a buzzword. Will they become the next staple of modern agriculture? That depends on how fast hydrogen costs fall, refueling networks expand and the machines hold up in different climates. But if you’re keen to see where sustainable energy meets farming, this seat-free marvel at Osaka is one heck of a teaser.

About the Company: Kubota Corp. (founded 1890) has grown into a global force in agricultural and construction machinery, now blazing trails with autonomous, zero-emission innovations.