JCB launched its first hydrogen-powered backhoe loader under a £100M hydrogen engine program, featuring a 55 kW hydrogen engine and roof-mounted 350-bar composite tanks designed to deliver diesel-like power and a full workday of operation.
UK-headquartered JCB launched its first hydrogen-powered backhoe loader, part of its £100 million ($135 million) investment in hydrogen engine technology. “The 3CX Hydrogen trio is powered by a 55 kW version of the JCB hydrogen engine. The machine is equipped with three hydrogen tanks, made of composite material and mounted on the cab roof, which provide enough storage capacity at a pressure of 350 bar to last an entire workday,” said in an emailed statement the company, which defines itself the world’s leading manufacturer of backhoe loaders. According to JCB, the 55 kW hydrogen engine delivers power and torque comparable to those of a diesel engine.
Syntholene announced that construction of its geothermal-integrated synthetic fuel demonstration facility in Iceland is ahead of schedule and that first operations could now occur as soon as June 2026. “Effects testing and real-world data gathering are expected to commence shortly thereafter, and the company is now targeting publication of its first efficiency and technoeconomic data as early as Q4 of 2026,” said the Chicago-based company, speaking about the project in Húsavík. Syntholene, which uses Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells, wants to become the first company to demonstrate the integration of geothermal heat with high-temperature electrolysis for synthetic fuel.
