Hydrogen diggers permitted to drive on UK roads after law change

Neil Gerrard Senior Editor, Construction Briefing

30 April 2025

JCB drove a hydrogen-fuelled backhoe loader past the Palace of Westminster to celebrate a change in legislation that allows hydrogen-fuelled construction and agricultural machinery to use UK roads JCB drove a hydrogen-fuelled backhoe loader past the Palace of Westminster to celebrate a change in legislation that allows hydrogen-fuelled construction and agricultural machinery to use UK roads (Image: JCB)

Construction and agricultural machinery powered by hydrogen can now use the public highways in the UK, after a legislative change came into force.

UK-based manufacturer JCB, which has invested £100 million in the development of a hydrogen combustion engine to power its machines, welcomed the news.

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood signed a statutory instrument in early April, ahead of an amendment to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to…

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