JCB unveils mobile hydrogen refueller

JCB, who has been on the front foot with its green equipment range powered by electric and hydrogen, has once again pipped other brands to the post by unveiling what it claims to be the world’s first mobile hydrogen refueller.

In the past couple of years, JCB has produced multiple hydrogen-powered equipment prototypes including an excavator, a backhoe loader and Loadall telescopic handler. Late last year, the company announced a £100 million investment to produce its own line of hydrogen engines.

Hence, its latest product launch is a natural progression for the company in supporting its hydrogen line-up.

According to JCB, around 97 per cent of construction machines have fuel delivered to them while working on site, meaning customers are already used to transportable fuel. JCB’s mobile hydrogen refueller does the same thing, except instead of diesel, it dispenses hydrogen.

“Since we became the first construction equipment company to unveil machines powered by hydrogen, many have asked how they can be refuelled,” said JCB Chairman, Lord Bamford, who is leading JCB’s hydrogen project.

“We now have an answer with our new mobile hydrogen refuelling system, which allows hydrogen to be taken from on-site tube trailers and distributed to machines by our refueller as they work on the job site. This is no different to today when diesel is taken in bowsers to refuel machines.

“Fossil fuels are not the future and hydrogen is the practical solution to powering our machines in the decades to come. Our British engineers are doing a fantastic job in developing this technology and there are many more exciting developments to come.”

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