UK contractor trials JCB hydrogen Loadall

The JCB hydrogen Loadall on test in Digbeth, Birmingham. (Photo: JCB)

BAM Construction in the UK has partnered with JCB to test a Loadall telescopic handler equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine. 

BAM trialled the hydrogen-powered 540-180H Loadall on a regeneration project in Digbeth, Birmingham, with the aim to assess the machine’s performance and refuelling process in a real construction environment.

JCB supplied hydrogen to the site using a refuelling trailer, which connects to the loadall and refuels the machine at the touch of a button. 

Following the trial, BAM highlighted the simplicity of the refuelling process of the unit, which is said to offer a zero-carbon emission driveline that offers the same power and torque characteristics as diesel models.

Colin Evison, BAM’s innovation technical lead, said, “We’re starting to explore the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. It was important to get the hydrogen fuel machine on a real construction site. We’ve seen it in test environments, and we know that technically it does work, but putting it to the test on a real site makes a real difference.

“We’ve noticed no difference in the way the machine operates. We have to refuel the machine in a different way, but it’s a simple and straightforward process.”

Maggie Hall, BAM’s environmental sustainability manager, added, “Sustainability is one of our firm’s core values and we have set ambitious net zero targets. One of those targets is to halve our Scope 3 emissions, compared to our 2019 levels.

“Scope 3 emissions are the ones that we can influence, but we can’t directly control. A significant part of our Scope 3 emissions is associated with our supply chain, so it’s crucial that we work with the supply chain to reduce emissions.

“The road to net zero will introduce lots of different things to our industry and hydrogen is an important part of that solution. It can be easily serviced and easily refuelled. It’s a really important step to take to reduce our emissions.”

JCB’s hydrogen journey

Tim Burnhope, JCB Group director – special projects, said the OEM has been working for more than three years to develop the hydrogen combustion engine, which has since spent over 50,000 hours being tested on JCB sites.

“Now we’ve put JCB hydrogen combustion machines on to customer sites. We are proving with our customers that this really can work, that hydrogen can be the future for construction and agricultural equipment, the mobile fuel of the future, and one that is carbon-free, producing nothing but clean steam,” Burnhope said.

The news comes just months after JCB announced that its hydrogen combustion engine had received licensing and approval for use in commercial machines.

At the time, 11 licensing authorities across Europe gave permission for the engine to be sold across Europe, with the Netherlands’ Vehicle Authority RDW the first to issue official certification.

JCB unveiled the prototype engine in January 2023 before an international debut at CONEXPO that March. The OEM said it invested around US$122 million into the project over the last three years.