JCB obtains full EU approval for its hydrogen engine 

The JCB hydrogen engine has been certified for sale and use in OEM machinery and equipment in each of the 27 EU Member States and all other territories recognising EU type approvals (e.g. EEA and EFTA territories).

The EU type approval was issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 and certifies the JCB hydrogen combustion engine to the current Stage V emissions standards. The EU type approval follows previous landmark decisions by type approval authorities in nine continental European countries, authorising the engine for commercial use in machinery in those countries under the 'new technology' provisions.

British approval was granted quickly, first as 'new technology' and now as full approval.

A promising future

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who led the company's hydrogen engine project, said: « This is another very important moment for JCB. Not so long ago, some were saying that the internal combustion engine was dead in Europe. JCB's achievement of full EU type approval proves that the combustion engine does indeed have a promising future in the pursuit of a net-zero emissions world if hydrogen, a CO2-free fuel, is used instead of fossil fuels. I couldn't be happier for the JCB team who have worked so hard to get us to this point. We will now focus on bringing our hydrogen technology to market. JCB customers have been patiently waiting for our hydrogen-powered equipment to make a difference on their construction sites. They won't have much longer to wait. »

A £100 million investment

JCB is the first construction equipment company to develop a fully approved combustion engine powered by hydrogen. A team of 150 engineers has been working on this exciting £100 million development for nearly four years.

JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines for backhoe loaders, telehandlers, and generators. Pre-launch real-world testing of equipment powered by the JCB hydrogen engine is now at an advanced stage and progressing well.