JCB’s Hydrogen Combustion Engine: Early Real-World Deployments and Customer Feedback
Following the strong interest in our previous article on JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine, here’s a closer look at where the technology actually stands today in real-world conditions.
While JCB’s hydrogen engine only received full EU Type Approval in 2025/2026, it has already moved beyond the prototype stage. The company has built over 130 evaluation engines and placed them into advanced field trials with customers. These are no longer just lab tests — they are operating on active job sites.
Current Real-World Use
The most significant deployment to date is on the Lower Thames Crossing project in the UK — one of Britain’s largest infrastructure schemes. JCB hydrogen-powered backhoe loaders have been working on the project since late 2025, carrying out survey and construction work. This marks one of the first times a hydrogen combustion construction machine has moved from testing into actual commercial operation on a major project.
In addition to the Lower Thames Crossing, JCB has conducted trials across at least eight customer sites in the UK and Europe. These include construction companies and contractors using the hydrogen backhoe loaders and Loadall telescopic handlers in demanding, real-world environments.
JCB has also successfully tested the same hydrogen engine in on-highway applications, including a 7.5-tonne Mercedes truck and a Mercedes Sprinter van, proving the technology’s versatility beyond construction equipment.
What Customers Are Experiencing
Practical Benefits Reported
Early customer feedback has been notably positive. According to JCB, operators and site teams have described the machines as feeling “just the same” as their diesel equivalents. Key benefits include:
- Familiar Performance: The hydrogen engine delivers comparable power, torque, and responsiveness to diesel. Operators do not need to change how they work.
- Quick Refueling: Unlike battery-electric machines that can require long charging times, hydrogen refueling is fast — similar to filling a diesel tank. This is a major advantage on busy construction sites where machine uptime is critical.
- Zero Tailpipe CO₂: Customers focused on carbon reduction targets (especially on major infrastructure projects) are achieving significant emissions cuts without sacrificing productivity.
- Ease of Transition: Because the machine uses a familiar internal combustion engine architecture, mechanics and operators require minimal retraining compared to switching to electric or fuel cell technology.
- Strong Low-End Torque: Useful for heavy digging and lifting tasks typical in construction.
One JCB executive noted that there is “a really strong portion of the market where that will work really, really well,” particularly among contractors who need diesel-like performance but want to reduce their carbon footprint.
Drawbacks and Challenges Reported
While the technology performs well mechanically, customers are facing several practical hurdles:
- Hydrogen Availability and Infrastructure: This remains the biggest constraint. On many job sites, especially outside major projects like the Lower Thames Crossing, reliable hydrogen supply and refueling infrastructure is still limited. Customers often depend on mobile refuelers or dedicated supply contracts (such as the 2,500-tonne green hydrogen deal secured for the Lower Thames Crossing with GeoPura).
- Higher Fuel Costs: Green hydrogen is currently more expensive than diesel in most markets. While some customers accept this as part of their sustainability strategy, it remains a barrier for wider adoption until hydrogen becomes more cost-competitive.
- Site Logistics: Managing hydrogen storage and refueling on construction sites requires new safety protocols, training, and space planning. This adds operational complexity compared to diesel.
- NOx Emissions Management: Although the engine produces zero CO₂, it still generates some nitrogen oxides (NOx). These must be managed through in-cylinder techniques or aftertreatment systems, adding some engineering complexity.
- Limited Machine Availability: As the technology is still in the early commercial phase, the range of hydrogen-powered JCB machines is currently narrow (mainly backhoe loaders and telehandlers), limiting customer choice.
Summary: Where Things Stand
JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine has successfully transitioned from concept to real-world deployment on major projects. The Lower Thames Crossing deployment, supported by dedicated green hydrogen supply, represents the most advanced example of this technology in action today.
Customers are generally impressed with the performance parity to diesel and the operational familiarity, which lowers the barrier to adoption. However, the technology’s success is currently heavily dependent on hydrogen supply infrastructure and the willingness of customers to pay a premium for lower emissions in the short term.
The biggest limitation is not the engine itself, but the surrounding ecosystem — particularly the availability and cost of green hydrogen on job sites.
What This Means for the Industry
JCB’s approach — adapting a familiar internal combustion engine rather than pursuing fuel cells or full electrification — appears to be resonating with contractors who need reliable, high-performance machines without fundamentally changing how they operate.
As more projects like the Lower Thames Crossing demonstrate success, and as hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure scale up, we should see broader adoption in construction and other hard-to-abate sectors.
