The Decarbonisation Challenge
Decarbonising heavy construction and mining machinery is no small feat. These vehicles demand high peak power, rugged performance, and continuous uptime—conditions that have made batteries a difficult fit to date.
While battery-electric solutions boast excellent round-trip efficiency (typically 85%+), they’re currently held back by:
- Reduced range in cold environments
- Long recharge times
- Low energy density relative to weight
- Excessive battery mass for high-power machines
This makes them impractical for off-grid, 24/7 operations that define much of the heavy-duty construction sector.
Fuel Cells vs Hydrogen ICE
Hydrogen fuel cells offer the promise of zero tailpipe emissions and quick refuelling, but challenges remain—namely:
- Lower overall efficiency (30–50%)
- Sensitivity to fuel quality and contaminants
- Cold-weather performance
- Higher maintenance complexity
That’s why JCB’s work on hydrogen ICEs is gaining traction. By adapting existing diesel engine architectures, they retain familiar powertrain characteristics, simplify maintenance, and reduce development lead time. Although hydrogen distribution infrastructure still needs to evolve, JCB has already deployed on-site refuelling systems to tackle this issue head-on.
Their demonstration at the Lower Thames Crossing shows real-world potential—and strengthens the case for hydrogen ICEs as a credible pathway for decarbonising heavy machinery. It sits alongside other viable hydrogen use cases, such as methanol-based fuel for long-haul shipping.
Hydrogen ICEs will be an important part of the decarbonisation toolkit—especially for hard-to-electrify sectors. It’s encouraging to see UK innovation pushing boundaries and bringing us closer to a net-zero construction future.
