JCB, a prominent off-road and construction equipment company, marked a significant milestone with the global debut of its £100 million (Rs 1,019 crore) project in India. The initiative, unveiled by Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, focuses on developing highly efficient hydrogen engines to meet carbon emissions reduction goals.
The showcased innovation is a JCB backhoe loader featuring a purpose-engineered hydrogen combustion engine, a product of the ongoing efforts by a dedicated team of 150 JCB engineers. Notably, over 75 prototypes have already been produced at JCB’s UK engine plant, powering backhoe loaders and Loadall telescopic handler machines. In addition to the engines, JCB UK introduced a mobile refueling bowser designed to supply hydrogen fuel to these groundbreaking machines.
The company emphasized its commitment to reducing fuel consumption, highlighting that its current diesel-powered machines use 50% less fuel compared to those manufactured over a decade ago. This achievement translates to saving 16 billion liters of fuel, equivalent to 53 million tonnes of CO2.
Deepak Shetty, CEO and MD of JCB India, highlighted the significance of unveiling the hydrogen-powered backhoe loader in India during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). He emphasized JCB’s practical and affordable technology, positioning India as the first nation to showcase this prototype.
Lord Bamford, Chairman of JCB, outlined India’s potential to embrace hydrogen as a central element in its net-zero future. He underscored hydrogen’s clean and renewable nature, leveraging India’s abundant sun and water resources. Bamford praised hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel that allows for fast refueling, making it an ideal solution for the earthmoving sector, particularly in India.
Bamford emphasized that hydrogen combustion engines, harnessing the unique properties of hydrogen, can deliver power, torque, and efficiency equivalent to conventional engines but in a zero-carbon manner. He emphasized the cost-effectiveness, reliability, and proven nature of hydrogen combustion technology.
Shetty expressed optimism about the rapid adoption of hydrogen in India for various applications, anticipating a swift transition from diesel to hydrogen. JCB India is well-prepared for this shift, with advanced hydrogen combustion technology already in use and prototype machines showcasing Asia’s first construction equipment powered by a hydrogen combustion engine.