JCB highlights hydrogen

13 September 2022

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves was recently given an insight into JCB’s £100 million investment in hydrogen engines at the manufacturer’s Power Systems facility in Foston, Derbyshire.

The Leeds West Labour MP toured the plant, where she was shown the production area and detailed testing processes involved in developing the engine. 

Accompanied by Gary Smith, the General Secretary of the GMB Union, she watched a demonstration of a prototype backhoe loader powered by a hydrogen combustion engine. 

Rachel Reeves said: “It was fantastic to see JCB’s zero emission machinery during my visit. I saw first-hand how hydrogen combustion engines can play an important role in decarbonising the construction industry and agriculture. It's clear that zero carbon technologies are the way forward for Britain.”

JCB chairman Lord Bamford commented: “It was a pleasure to show the Shadow Chancellor the great strides our British engineers are taking in developing a solution to power our machines in the future. They need to be powered by something other than fossil fuels in the years to come and super-efficient, affordable, high-tech hydrogen engines with zero emissions can be brought to market quickly using our existing supply base.”

The previous government seemed to prioritise electricity as a power source for vehicles and plant, certainly with regard to national infrastructure investment. Perhaps under new prime minister and Conservative leader Liz Truss there will be a wider focus that includes other fuels more prominently.

● Picture shows Rachel Reeves with JCB chief innovation and growth director Tim Burnhope (left) and Gary Smith.