JCB marks its eightieth anniversary by persevering with its legacy of innovation and overcoming regulatory limitations to deliver hydrogen expertise to market
Lately, JCB has achieved a number of notable milestones – it was the primary to introduce an electrical mini excavator into collection manufacturing, the primary within the business to develop a hydrogen gasoline cell excavator prototype, the primary in our business to develop and run a hydrogen combustion engine, adopted by the primary working hydrogen combustion backhoe, and Loadall telescopic handler.
All through its historical past, JCB has been no stranger to firsts, growing the primary hydraulic tipping trailer in Europe in 1948, the world’s first backhoe loader in 1953, adopted by the world’s first telescopic handler – the loadall, amongst different “firsts”. This persistent drive for innovation is rooted within the firm’s tenet “Innovation is our lifeblood”, began by JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford and continued by chairman Lord Bamford. We frequently attempt, as all of us do within the business, to discover a higher method of doing issues – to in the end profit the shopper.
Breaking new regulatory floor
Being first does include challenges although, as we skilled by means of JCB’s hydrogen programme. Through the early phases of hydrogen engine growth, it grew to become obvious that hydrogen was absent from the EU’s Stage V emissions controls as a reference gasoline, complicating the certification course of. To handle this, JCB utilised the New Applied sciences provision inside the rules, designed for novel options not coated by commonplace gasoline lists. Since this clause had by no means been invoked, substantial effort was required from each JCB groups and the EU certification and homologation authorities to safe obtain compliance. Consequently, JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine has now acquired Stage V sort approval – a milestone which, whereas it could seem routine, represents a major achievement for the corporate.
“After two years of labor…the regulation has been modified to allow [off-highway] tools powered by hydrogen to drive on UK roads”
One other surprising first additionally got here in latest months – in an identical approach to the EU emissions rules, it got here to our consideration that UK rules barred hydrogen powered building and agricultural tools from driving on the roads. This was a carryover from an previous piece of laws which banned all gas-powered automobiles from driving on the roads. The automotive world took 14 years to get the regulation modified to permit automobiles, vans, buses and vans to have the ability to use hydrogen on the roads, nevertheless they clearly by no means thought that our business want to be a part of them. I’m happy to say that after two years of working extra intently with the UK Division for Transport than we now have ever accomplished earlier than, the regulation has been modified to allow building and agricultural tools powered by hydrogen to drive on UK roads. It was in truth a monumental effort by all events concerned, particularly inside the UK authorities departments it was value all that effort in the long run.
Paving business pathways
As I replicate on these firsts we now have encountered as a part of our hydrogen programme, being first is each difficult and thrilling, however it’s the legacy that it leaves for the business to comply with which is most fun. In years to return, no-one will assume twice about whether or not hydrogen powered tractors, backhoe loaders, or loadall telescopic handlers can drive on the UK roads – will probably be the norm, correctly. It is very important recognise that each development and innovation inside our business requires an preliminary trailblazer prepared to face the limitations and knock them down.
This text first appeared within the October difficulty of iVT
