By securing EU type-approval, JCB鈥檚 hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine is now approved for sale and for use in machines and third-party OEM 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 certificate has been issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 and certifies JCB鈥檚 hydrogen combustion engine to prevailing EU Stage V emissions norms. British approval was granted rapidly, initially for the 鈥榥ew-technology鈥�, and now as full type-approval.
EU type-approval follows earlier rulings by 10 licensing authorities across nine countries across mainland Europe allowing the engine to be used commercially in machines in those countries under 鈥榥ew technology鈥� provisions. [See previous report here.]
JCB chairman Anthony Bamford said: 鈥淭his is another very significant moment for JCB鈥檚 hydrogen programme. It was not so long ago that some said that it was 鈥榞ame over鈥� for the internal combustion engine in Europe. For JCB to have secured full EU type-approval is proof positive that the combustion engine does indeed have a promising future in pursuit of a net zero world if hydrogen, a zero CO2 fuel, is used instead of fossil fuels.鈥�
He added: 鈥淣ow our focus will be on bringing our hydrogen technology to market. JCB鈥檚 customers are patiently waiting for our hydrogen-powered equipment to make a difference on their job sites. They won鈥檛 have much longer to wait.鈥�
JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines, which are powering backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers and generator sets. Real world pre-launch testing of JCB鈥檚 hydrogen equipment is progressing well, the company said.
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