JCB unveils hydrogen combustion technology

JCB’s £100 million project to produce super-efficient hydrogen engines made its Asian debut, when the company unveiled its hydrogen combustion technology at EXCON, in Bengaluru.

The JCB 3DX hydrogen machine was unveiled alongside the JCB hydrogen combustion engine. It has been developed to meet carbon emissions reduction targets.

A team of 150 JCB engineers is working on the pioneering initiative to develop hydrogen combustion engines – and more than 75 prototypes have already been manufactured.

Prototype JCB hydrogen engines are already powering backhoe loader and Loadall telescopic handler machines. Separately, JCB UK has also unveiled it’s very own designed and built mobile refuelling bowser to take the fuel to the machines.

JCB’s existing drive to reduce fuel consumption means its diesel-powered machines use 50% less fuel today on average than those manufactured more than a decade ago. This has saved 16 billion litres of fuel – equivalent to 53 million tonnes of CO2.