British construction equipment manufacturer JCB has secured approval from 11 European licensing authorities to sell and deploy its hydrogen combustion engine commercially, making it the first construction company to get a hydrogen-burning internal combustion engine certified for real-world use.
The Netherlands Vehicle Authority RDW issued the first certification in January 2025, according to Equipment World, with Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein following within weeks. Additional countries are expected to grant approval throughout 2026.
The engine took three years and £100 million to develop, with a team of 150 engineers working on the project. Lord Anthony Bamford, JCB chairman, told Industrial Vehicle Technology International the certification represents "a proper zero emissions solution for construction and agricultural equipment."
Unlike hydrogen fuel cell systems that convert hydrogen into electricity to power motors, JCB's engine burns hydrogen gas directly in modified combustion chambers using spark ignition. The approach delivers diesel-equivalent power and torque while emitting only water vapor at the tailpipe.
The 4.8-liter four-cylinder engine started life as a proven JCB turbodiesel but underwent comprehensive redesign. Engineers at JCB developed a bespoke low-pressure, low-temperature hydrogen injection system to prevent knock, created a new spark plug design for ignition, and fitted a turbocharger operating at significantly higher boost levels than diesel applications require, per CarBuzz.
The result matches diesel performance without the noise. Pistons, valves, and numerous internal components were redesigned specifically for hydrogen combustion.
JCB has already built over 130 evaluation engines powering backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers, and generator sets. Real-world testing on customer sites is at an advanced stage, according to Automotive Powertrain Technology International.
The technology offers construction and industrial operators a zero-carbon option without abandoning internal combustion entirely. Existing workflows, refueling infrastructure concepts, and mechanic skill sets remain relevant. Operators familiar with diesel equipment can transition to hydrogen combustion without retraining on electric drivetrains or fuel cell systems.
There are complications. Hydrogen combustion produces nitrogen oxides, which require aftertreatment systems similar to diesel engines. The hydrogen supply chain remains carbon-intensive in most regions, meaning truly zero-emission operation depends on green hydrogen production using renewable energy. Transportation and storage infrastructure for hydrogen is still limited compared to diesel distribution networks.
But for heavy machinery operating in industries with no viable path to electrification due to power demands or duty cycles, hydrogen combustion offers a practical bridge. Compact Equipment witnessed prototype machines running in snow at a JCB quarry in Rocester, UK, in early 2023, noting steam rather than exhaust smoke rising from the equipment.
JCB plans to bring the engine to market in 2026, per Future Farming. Whether hydrogen refueling infrastructure develops fast enough to support widespread adoption remains the critical question. The technology works. The fuel network does not yet exist at scale.
For now, JCB has proven that combustion engines can survive the transition away from fossil fuels. They just need different fuel in the tank and regulatory approval to burn it. Both boxes are now checked in Europe.
