JCB’s hydrogen engine technology has reached another milestone after securing the first full EU type approval for use in off-highway mobile machinery.
The approval means JCB’s hydrogen engine is approved for sale and use in machines and third-party OEM equipment in all 27 European Union member states.
“This is another very significant moment for JCB’s hydrogen program. It was not so long ago that some said that it was ‘game over’ for the internal combustion engine in Europe,” said JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has led the company’s hydrogen engine project.
“For JCB to have secured full EU type approval is proof positive that the combustion engine does indeed have a promising future in pursuit of a net zero world if hydrogen, a zero CO2 fuel, is used instead of fossil fuels.”
The EU type approval follows earlier approvals by licensing authorities in nine countries in mainland Europe, allowing the engine to be used commercially in machines in those countries under “new technology” provisions.
“I could not be more delighted for the JCB team that put so much work into getting us to this stage. Now our focus will be on bringing our hydrogen technology to market,” Bamford said. “JCB’s customers are patiently waiting for our hydrogen-powered equipment to make a difference on their jobsites. They won’t have much longer to wait.”
Great Britain type approval was granted rapidly, initially for the “new technology” and now as full type approval.
JCB is the first construction equipment company to develop a fully approved combustion engine fueled by hydrogen, and a team of 150 engineers has been working on the £100 million development for nearly four years.
JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines that are powering backhoe loaders, telescopic handlers and generator sets.
Real-world pre-launch testing of JCB’s hydrogen equipment is now at an advanced stage and progressing well.
