HYDROGEN POWERED AG MACHINERY GIVEN GREEN LIGHT

A Government decision this week to change the law has given hydrogen powered tractors and machinery the green light to be driven on UK roads.

A hydrogen JCB digger drives over Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament
 
Lilian Greenwood MP,  Minister for the Future of Roads, signed a statutory instrument allowing hydrogen powered agricultural and construction machinery to use the public highway from April 29th 2025.
 
Following the news, JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford - who instigated a £100 million project to develop a hydrogen combustion engine to power their machines - hailed the news as “historic”.  Lord Bamford’s reaction came as a hydrogen powered JCB digger was driven around London’s roads to mark the momentous announcement – calling in at the Department for Transport to meet the Minister who made the legislative change happen.
 
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said, “Today shows once again we are on the side of British business, as we now allow hydrogen-powered diggers and tractors to be legally driven on UK roads for the first time. We’re supporting the UK's Plan for Change by working closely with brilliant British companies like JCB to harness the opportunities of the net zero transition, driving innovation and creating jobs to put money in the pockets of hardworking people and secure our future.”
 
Lord Bamford said, “The JCB team has done amazing work to develop a hydrogen combustion engine. It has already been given resounding backing from our customers who have been evaluating the technology; they say it is simple to use and performs as well as diesel counterparts. We are delighted that the Government has now endorsed the use of hydrogen in machinery. There has been a lot of work to get to this point. It is truly a historic day for JCB and a milestone moment for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel in the construction and agricultural machinery industries. We now have the legislation that allows hydrogen powered machines to drive on the road between sites and between farms.”
 
Lilian Greenwood signed the statutory instrument in early April to pave the way for an amendment to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to enable the road use of hydrogen-fuelled non-road mobile machinery. The change in legislation came into force on April 29th. Other hydrogen powered vehicles, including cars, buses and trucks were already permitted by law to use UK roads, but hydrogen-fuelled construction and agricultural machinery could not - until this week.
 
JCB say they have invested more than £100 million to produce a range of super-efficient zero-emission hydrogen engines. The company has been operating prototype hydrogen-powered Loadall telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders and generators on sites near Birmingham and is now testing a range of equipment in partnership with rental companies and contractors across the UK.