JCB’s hydrogen has the go-ahead from the UK Government to run on the roads
JCB hailed the UK Government decision to change the law to give hydrogen diggers the green light to be driven on roads
Step by step, JCB ‘s “will to power” (to quote Nietzsche…) regarding hydrogen has also involved the UK Government. After approval for use by eleven European national authorities, regulatory clearance has arrived to give hydrogen-powered operating machines the green light to drive on UK roads.
UK Minister Lilian Greenwood “blesses” hydrogen and JCB
Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads, has signed a statutory instrument allowing hydrogen fuelled construction and agricultural machinery to use the public highway from April 29th 2025. The British Minister signed the statutory instrument in early April to pave the way for an amendment to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to enable the road use of hydrogen-fuelled non-road mobile machinery. The change in legislation came into force yesterday. Other hydrogen powered vehicles, including cars, buses and trucks were already permitted by law to use UK roads, but hydrogen-fuelled construction and agricultural machinery could not – until yesterday. “We’re supporting the UK’s Plan for Change by working closely with brilliant British companies like JCB to harness the opportunities of the net zero transition, driving innovation and creating jobs to put money in the pockets of hardworking people and secure our future.“
And Anthony Bamford’s comprensible delight
“The JCB team has done amazing work to develop a hydrogen combustion engine. It has already been given resounding backing from our customers who have been evaluating the technology; they say it is simple to use and performs as well as diesel counterparts. We are delighted that the Government has now endorsed the use of hydrogen in machinery. There has been a lot of work to get to this point. It is truly a historic day for JCB and a milestone moment for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel in the construction and agricultural machinery industries. We now have the legislation that allows hydrogen powered machines to drive on the road between sites and between farms,” Lord Bamford stated.
