King Charles gives hydrogen diggers Royal blessing at JCB’s 80th birthday
His Majesty The King visited JCB’s Rocester headquarters to celebrate the company’s 80th anniversary – not just to admire the diggers, but to get a proper look at what could power them in the future.
A long-time champion of environmental causes, The King was there to see JCB’s hydrogen-powered machines up close, stepping onto the shop floor to watch them in action and hear how the company plans to swap diesel for zero-carbon fuel.
On his tour of JCB’s Innovation Centre, The King was shown one of the company’s hydrogen-powered diggers – one of a growing fleet of prototypes the firm has built to prove that construction machinery can go green without losing the muscle operators rely on.
JCB’s hydrogen engine is designed to slot straight into existing designs. The combustion engine stays – just with hydrogen in the tank instead of diesel.
JCB Chairman Lord Anthony Bamford, who hosted the visit, said: “It is a real honour for us all that The King has visited JCB to help us celebrate 80 years in business.
“It was also a great pleasure to show The King the progress we are making with hydrogen-powered machines. Today was an occasion that will live long in the memories of everyone who was present.”
JCB says its hydrogen approach gives operators the performance and rapid refuelling they expect – an essential factor for industries that don’t have time to wait hours for a charge.
The firm has already deployed working hydrogen prototypes, from excavators to wheeled loaders, as it refines the technology for mass production.
The King, a digger, and a spanner
The hydrogen showcase was the centrepiece of the visit, but The King didn’t stop there. He took a tour of JCB’s backhoe loader production line to mark the company’s one-millionth machine milestone – before stepping up to lend a hand himself.
Under the watchful eye of JCB engineers, he fitted a wheel to a backhoe loader, proving that even at 75, he’s not above a bit of practical work.
He also met with JCB apprentices and engineers, getting a glimpse of the generations of expertise behind the company’s machines.
And, in a moment of sporting crossover, he caught up with JCB-sponsored Olympic silver medallist Adam Burgess, who brought his Paris 2024 canoe slalom medal along for the occasion.
A Royal stamp of approval for hydrogen
Before heading off, The King unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit and was met by thousands of JCB employees gathered outside to see him off.
JCB said the visit highlighted the company’s belief that hydrogen combustion is a real-world alternative to diesel – one that delivers the same power and usability but with zero carbon at the tailpipe.
The machines may look the same, sound the same, and work the same, but with hydrogen in the tank, they could be the future of clean construction.
With The King’s visit bringing extra attention to JCB’s hydrogen push, the bright yellow machines rolling off the Rocester production line might soon be running on something a little greener.
