JCB marks its eightieth anniversary by persevering with its legacy of innovation and overcoming regulatory limitations to carry hydrogen expertise to market
Lately, JCB has achieved a number of notable milestones – it was the primary to introduce an electrical mini excavator into sequence manufacturing, the primary within the business to develop a hydrogen gas 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 try, as all of us do within the business, to discover a higher manner of doing issues – to finally profit the shopper.
Breaking new regulatory floor
Being first does include challenges although, as we skilled by way of JCB’s hydrogen programme. Throughout the early levels of hydrogen engine growth, it grew to become obvious that hydrogen was absent from the EU’s Stage V emissions controls as a reference gas, complicating the certification course of. To deal with this, JCB utilised the New Applied sciences provision throughout the laws, designed for novel options not coated by normal gas 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 kind approval – a milestone which, whereas it could seem routine, represents a major achievement for the corporate.
“After two years of labor…the legislation 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 analogous strategy to the EU emissions laws, it got here to our consideration that UK laws barred hydrogen powered building and agricultural tools from driving on the roads. This was a carryover from an outdated piece of laws which banned all gas-powered autos from driving on the roads. The automotive world took 14 years to get the legislation modified to permit automobiles, vans, buses and vehicles to have the ability to use hydrogen on the roads, nonetheless they clearly by no means thought that our business wish to be a part of them. I’m happy to say that after two years of working extra carefully with the UK Division for Transport than we’ve got ever carried out earlier than, the legislation 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 throughout the UK authorities departments it was price all that effort in the long run.
Paving business pathways
As I mirror on these firsts we’ve got 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 observe which is most enjoyable. In years to come back, no-one will suppose twice about whether or not hydrogen powered tractors, backhoe loaders, or loadall telescopic handlers can drive on the UK roads – it is going to 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 problem of iVT
