JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine approved for use across Europe
British construction plant manufacturer JCB’s hydrogen engine has been approved for use after the company secured rulings from licensing authorities allowing it to be used commercially in machines.
According to the company, JCB is the first construction equipment business to develop a fully working combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen and a team of 150 engineers has been working on the £100m development for over three years.
The engine is based on a modified version of JCB's existing diesel engine platform, using hydrogen gas as its fuel. The hydrogen combustion process produces no carbon dioxide emissions, only water vapor and trace amounts of nitrogen oxides. Its performance is comparable to diesel engines in power and torque, which says JCB, makes it viable for heavy-duty operations where electric solutions may not be practical due to weight, range, or refuelling time constraints.
JCB recently confirmed that 11 licensing authorities across Europe have now given permission for its hydrogen engine to be sold across Europe – with authorities in other countries set to follow suit with certification in 2025.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has led the company’s hydrogen engine project, said, “This is a very significant moment for JCB. To start the New Year with certification in place in so many European countries bodes very well for the future of hydrogen combustion technology. JCB has proved in recent years that it is a proper zero emissions solution for construction and agricultural equipment.
“This formal type approval/certification paves the way for the sale and use of hydrogen engines right across the UK and Europe. I am delighted for our team of British engineers who have worked tirelessly to reach this stage.”
The Netherlands’ Vehicle Authority RDW was the first licensing authority to issue official certification with other licensing bodies following suit including Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines which are powering backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers and generator sets. Real-world testing of JCB’s hydrogen equipment on customers’ sites is now at an advanced stage.