JCB Chairman Lord Bamford Photo: Jamie Lorriman
Lord Bamford said: “We need a similar commitment from the UK government to ensure that that this country can use hydrogen to help fight climate change.
“While the US President is actively promoting the benefits of hydrogen as clean energy in the US, explicitly supporting companies such as Cummins that intend to produce low or zero carbon engines, the UK government appears to be intent on ignoring the possibilities of hydrogen in this country, instead instead choosing to rely on battery-electric technology as the only viable path to zero emissions.
“This is short-sighted and risks disrupting established supply chains and leading to job losses in the UK. engine building.
The criticism comes as Mr. Sunak is pushing ahead with a plan to ban the sale of new non-hybrid petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, despite concerns about a lack of charging stations and a partial phasing out of similar policies in the European Union.
0104 Electricity infrastructure struggles to keep up
In the EU, so-called e-fuels made using green hydrogen and carbon from air will be exempted from a 2035 ban on internal combustion engines. Brussels' rejection, following intense lobbying by German and Italian automakers, sparked calls for the UK to follow suit.
It came when Elon Musk said it would cost $14 trillion to switch the world to clean energy . The billionaire electric vehicle company Tesla also suggested it was developing a compact car, van and bus in an article dubbed Master Plan Part 3.
Lord Bamford has donated significant sums to the Conservative Party and Mr. Sunak's predecessor Boris Johnson over the years.
Most recently, he, along with his son Joe, who owns Boris's bus maker, Wrightbus, has become a leading advocate for the use of hydrogen as a fuel. clean energy source.
JCB has invested £100 million in new hydrogen-powered digger machines.
Lord Bamford added: “The UK government needs to be more open and supportive of the hydrogen economy and hydrogen combustion technology in particular. Recent comments from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Business and Trade show a lack of interest and understanding.”
The JCB chairman's criticism comes just days after he called on ministers to rethink the ban on new gasoline and diesel vehicles.< /p>
Insisting that «combustion engines definitely have a future,» he said the UK should follow the lead in the EU, which is easing restrictions by allowing combustion engines to be sold as long as they run on carbon-neutral gasoline alternatives known as e-fuels. .
The UK backed its decision on a total ban for 2030, despite the EU decision during Green Day last month.
Criticists of the government's zero-emission plans have seized on the European Union's decision as evidence of the need for a complete policy rethink. Environmental campaigners such as Greenpeace have said this could slow down the adoption of electric vehicles.
British automakers Aston Martin and McLaren are already known to be considering using e-fuel in future models.
Lord Bamford said: “Governments should be wary of an engine ban when the root cause of the problem is fossil fuel that we currently fill in the fuel tank.
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