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JCB gives energy insights

23 March 2023

JCB gives energy insights

JCB has offered some interesting insights into what it perceives as the most practical alternatives to diesel, following the company’s showing of its hydrogen internal combustion engine at the Conexpo plant exhibition last week in Las Vegas.

The manufacturer says that, having researched various sustainable options, for the time being it will concentrate on battery power for smaller machines and hydrogen for larger plant. 

JCB’s existing electric machines include the 525-60E Loadall telehandler and the 19C-1E mini excavator. However, the company says that, while battery electric is suitable for smaller machines which operate for fewer hours and typically use less fuel, larger machines have a higher energy requirement and would need much larger, heavier batteries, which would take longer to charge.

As part of its hydrogen development, the company has investigated its use in fuel cells and in July 2020 unveiled the 20-tonne 220X hydrogen powered excavator.

In its search for a mobile fuel which can be taken to the machine, for maximum uptime and fast refuelling, alternatives like HVO, biogas, E-fuels and ammonia have been explored. However, for the time being, JCB has concluded that fuel cells are too expensive, too complicated and not robust enough for construction and agricultural equipment. 

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: "The majority of these alternative fuels require the production of hydrogen to make, so it makes perfect sense to use hydrogen in the first place because it is a clean zero carbon fuel which can be produced from renewable energy. Hydrogen also offers a potential solution to the challenge of batteries on larger machines; it allows for fast refuelling and is a mobile fuel solution, allowing fuel to be taken to the machine."

Prototype JCB hydrogen engines are already powering backhoe loader and Loadall telescopic handler machines. The company has installed one of its hydrogen engines into a 7.5 Mercedes tonne truck and has also designed a mobile refuelling bowser (pictured above) to facilitate refuelling. 


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