Heavy machinery manufacturer JCB announced the launch of a hydrogen-fueled piston engine that does not emit carbon dioxide, which it believes can help the transportation industry achieve the British government's zero-emissions goal faster than any existing solutions. 

JCB claims that its research shows that the new engine-based on the hardware of JCB's Dieselmax 448 four-cylinder engine, but with extensive modifications at the high end-not only does not produce carbon dioxide, but also has important advantages over battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell solutions , Both are much more expensive. 

JCB’s hydrogen engine is naturally aimed at its own off-highway applications, but after successful preliminary tests on excavators (which require much higher engine requirements than cars and trucks), the company’s engineers believe they have a system that can be successfully applied Technology for off-highway applications. A wider range of vehicles. 

Lord Anthony Bamford, Chairman of JCB, decided to set up a professional hydrogen engine research team at the company's Derbyshire R&D Center because they are increasingly worried about the loss of piston engine expertise and infrastructure and the integration of suppliers Dissolution. chain. 

He explained: “We are no longer arguing about diesel; that horse has run wild. Zero carbon emissions must be the goal, but we don’t think batteries and fuel cells are the only solution.” 

Lord Bamford and his engineers believe that they have a more real world view than most people in the industry, because they have launched a series of very successful battery-electric excavators in recent years, and they have extensive field experience in 20-ton prototype excavators Driven by a hydrogen fuel cell. Tim Burnhope, head of innovation at JCB, explained that the huge advantage of the hydrogen engine is that it can be put into production quickly and economically, while the existing ICE expertise and infrastructure will remain relevant. 

JCB’s prototype engine has a completely new intake system (reduced compression, new pistons, high-pressure common rail fuel and port injection), but it is designed to match the performance and driving characteristics of existing machines. 

As for toxic emissions, even after the latest post-treatment, diesel pollutants are reduced by 98%. Even the "raw" exhaust gas of the JCB experimental hydrogen engine contains less nitrogen oxides than diesel. 

Further measures can reduce it to what Burnhope calls the "zero impact level", that is, the content is too small to be measured. The only significant exhaust emission of the JCB hydrogen engine prototype observed by Autocar during operation was steam at start-up. 

JCB plans to further develop its hydrogen engine, but has set its sights firmly on production. 

"Our view is that using mature technology and existing supply bases, people who manufacture traditional engines must have the opportunity to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions as soon as possible," Bernhope said. "If you care about climate change, speed is of the essence." 

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Unfortunately, the industrial-scale production of hydrogen is based on fossil fuels.

You are not doing anything green, and it may be worse than just using a diesel engine.

My conclusion is that customers may prefer the quiet characteristics of batteries or fuel cells. Batteries have a huge advantage because there are not many farms or construction sites within 10 miles of the seven commercial hydrogen fuel pumps in the UK. Moreover, it is necessary to travel more than 10 miles in a single way to obtain fuel, which will be a big problem. Especially because you can't just drive to your Land Rover's pump and fill up 5 cans of Jerry hydrogen, and then come back and fill up your tractor or excavator. The hydrogen is stored in very expensive and heavy pressurized containers.

Therefore, it is speculated that they need diesel generators to charge electric construction machinery on green fields several miles away from anywhere.

Research on alternative fuels is absolutely crucial. By 2030, it is absolutely impossible for us to ban the sale of all ICE vehicles in this country.