JCB Sets Up Production Of Hydrogen Combustion Engines In Construction Equipment

Derbyshire, IK – JCB is leading the construction equipment industry in the Hydrogen powered segment. It is believed that the hydrogen-fueled piston engine developed by heavy machinery manufacturer JCB will assist the construction and transportation industry in meeting the UK government’s zero-emissions target more quickly than any other existing solutions, according to the company. It is unknown still on American markets as we did not receive a comment in time for this story.

According to the company’s research, the new engine – which is based on the hardware of JCB‘s Dieselmax 448 four-cylinder engine but has undergone significant modifications at the top end – not only emits no CO2, but it also has significant advantages over battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell alternatives, both of which are significantly more expensive alternatives.

Aside from being aimed at JCB‘s own off-highway applications, the company’s engineers believe they have developed a technology that can be successfully applied in a much wider range of vehicles following successful initial trials in excavators (which place significantly greater demands on engines than cars and trucks).

Lord Anthony Bamford, the chairman of JCB, made the decision to establish a specialist hydrogen engine research team at the company’s Derbyshire R&D center in July last year after growing increasingly concerned about the impending loss of piston engine expertise and infrastructure, as well as the disintegration of a well-integrated supply chain, at the company’s R&D center in Derbyshire.

Since launching a very successful range of battery-electric diggers a few years ago, Lord Bamford and his engineers believe they have a better understanding of the real world than most others in the industry. In addition, they have extensive field experience with 20-tonne prototype excavators powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

One of the most significant advantages of the hydrogen engine, according to JCB innovation chief Tim Burnhope, is that it can be brought into production quickly and affordably while maintaining compatibility with existing ICE know-how and infrastructure.