A FATHER and son from Britain’s best-known construction machinery family, JCB, have joined forces to create the world’s first hydrogen digger.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford and his son Jo, who runs Ryse Hydrogen and Wrightbus, have spent two years working on the first ever hydrogen-powered excavator and a further year testing the 220X prototype, which has been put through its paces at JCB’s quarry proving grounds.

Lord Bamford said: “The development of the first hydrogen-fuelled excavator is very exciting as we strive towards a zero carbon world. In the coming months JCB will continue to develop and refine this technology with advanced testing of our prototype machine and we will continue to be at the forefront of technologies designed to build a zero carbon future.”

Jo Bamford said it was a game-changing addition to JCB’s fleet and a strong message for Britain’s green economy: “I grew up on the shop floor at JCB and have spent many years working on a prototype to help take our companies into the future. I truly believe hydrogen is the UK’s best opportunity to build a world-leading industry which creates UK jobs, cuts emissions and is the envy of the globe.”

Power for JCB’s prototype excavator is generated by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to create the energy needed to run electric motors. The only emission from its exhaust is water.

The development comes after JCB made manufacturing history last year by going into full production with the construction industry’s first fully electric mini excavator, the 19C-1E. JCB has also extended electric technology to its Teletruk telescopic forklift range with the launch of an electric model, the JCB 30-19E.