JCB receives type approval from 11 licensing authorities for H2 ICE

JCB’s Lord Bamford receives official certification allowing the sale of H2 ICEs from RDW (Photo: JCB)

JCB has secured landmark rulings from a series of European licensing authorities which will allow its new hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2 ICE) to be used in commercial machines.

A total of 11 licensing authorities across Europe have now given permission for the new hydrogen engine to be sold across Europe – additional countries are set to follow with certification over 2025.

JCB chairman Anthony Bamford said: “This is a very significant moment for JCB. To start the new year with certification in place in so many European countries bodes very well for the future of hydrogen combustion technology. JCB has proved in recent years that it is a proper zero emissions solution for construction and agricultural equipment.

“This formal type approval/certification paves the way for the sale and use of hydrogen engines right across the UK and Europe. I couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the year. Most of all, I am delighted for our team of British engineers who have worked tirelessly to reach this stage.”

JCB confirmed that the Netherlands’ Vehicle Authority (RDW) was the first authority to issue official certification, allowing the engines to be sold in the Netherlands. Other countries include the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

A team of about 150 engineers has been working on the H2 ICE for about three years. Development of the new engine is said to have cost £100 million ($121 million).

The team has already produced more than 130 prototypes of the H2 ICE which have been evaluated across a series of machines including backhoe loaders, telescopic handlers and generator sets.

JCB reported that ‘real world’ testing of the hydrogen engines at customer sites is now at an advanced stage and ‘progressing well’.