JCB steps closer to a net zero future
JCB’s £100m project to produce hydrogen combustion engines is making progress thanks to a dedicated 150-strong team of British engineers.
More than 75 prototypes have already been manufactured at JCB’s engine plant in Derbyshire and, as well as powering backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers, the engine is being showcased on the international stage at trade fairs across North America and Europe.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, said: “The JCB engineering team has completely re-designed the combustion process to work for hydrogen. In doing so, they have secured the company’s place in history as the first construction equipment manufacturer to develop a fully working, hydrogen fuelled combustion engine.”
JCB has also been at the forefront of electric technology development. However, while battery-electric is suitable for smaller machines working fewer hours, larger machines have higher energy requirements. This would result in larger batteries that would take longer to charge, making them less suitable for machines that work multiple daily shifts and do not have the available downtime to recharge.
JCB has therefore concentrated its development of E-TECH machines on its compact range, including the 19C-1E, the world’s first electric mini excavator, and the 30-19E and 35-22E electric Teletruks.
JCB’s examination of future fuels that deliver zero emissions has left no stone unturned. In the search for a mobile fuel that can be taken to the machine, ensuring maximum uptime and fast refuelling, HVO, biogas, E-fuels, ammonia, and hydrogen were all scrutinised.
Lord Bamford said: “The majority of alternative fuels require the production of hydrogen to make, so it makes sense to use hydrogen in the first place; it is a clean, zero-carbon fuel that can be produced from renewable energy. Hydrogen also potentially solves the challenge of using batteries on larger machines.”
As part of its hydrogen development, JCB also investigated the use of fuel cells, unveiling the first ever hydrogen powered excavator in July 2020 – a 20-tonne 220X. However, JCB has concluded that fuel cells are too expensive, too complicated and not robust enough for construction and agricultural equipment.
In challenging the engineering team to think differently using existing technology in a zero-carbon way, the JCB hydrogen engine was born.
Lord Bamford said: “The unique combustion properties of hydrogen enables the hydrogen combustion engine to deliver the same power, torque, and efficiency of current JCB machines, but in a zero-carbon way. Also, by leveraging diesel engine technology and components, they do not require rare earth elements. Combustion technology is cost effective, robust, reliable and already well proven throughout not just the construction and agricultural industry, but the whole world.”
