INDUSTRY NEWS
World’s first electric digger a finalist for most prestigious UK engineering award
THE world’s first volume-produced electric digger, developed by JCB, a world leader in the manufacture of construction and agricultural equipment, has been named as one of three companies shortlisted for the 2020 MacRobert Award.
Founded in 1969, the MacRobert Award is overseen by the Royal Academy of Engineering and is the UK’s longest running engineering prize. It endorses engineering achievements that demonstrate outstanding innovation, tangible societal benefit and proven commercial success.
The JCB 19C-1E digger, developed by Staffordshire-based JCB, produces no exhaust emissions and is much quieter than existing construction machines. As the only volume-manufactured battery-powered machine of its kind on the market, the hundreds of models sold around the world so far are already responsible for saving the equivalent of 15,100kg in CO2 emissions across 5,616 hours of work.
The MacRobert Award judges were impressed with the way JCB brought a range of engineering disciplines together in
developing the machine. They also identified the optimised battery life and ability to operate indoors as important innovations.
The judges felt that in developing the 19C-1E, JCB has demonstrated the utility of electric machines in a construction setting and the potential for future sustainable innovation in the sector.
The JCB 19C-1E has been selected as a finalist for the MacRobert Award alongside the all-electric I-PACE sports utility vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover and ecoSMRT® liquid natural gas reliquification technology from Babcock’s LGE business.
All three finalists demonstrate the sheer ingenuity of engineers in developing significant engineering innovations that support the Academy’s drive to build a sustainable society, enabling faster decarbonisation and more sustainable use of resources.
The winner will be announced in July, with the winning team set to receive the signature MacRobert Award gold medal and a £50,000 cash prize.
Now in its 51st year, MacRobert Award- winning innovations have changed the world, delivering enormous economic and societal benefit and contributing to the UK’s standing as the world’s eighth largest manufacturing economy.
Tim Burnhope FREng, Chief Innovation & Growth Officer at JCB, said: “To be nominated for the UK’s most prestigious engineering award is a tremendous honour for the JCB electric team, who have excelled and risen to the challenge of introducing a brand new technology to our business.”
MacRobert Award judge Naomi Climer CBE FREng, said: “The team at JCB has put sustainable engineering on the construction map with the 19C-1E. Their electric digger is hugely impressive and it’s an extremely important engineering innovation. JCB has demonstrated to the construction sector that it is possible to develop powerful machinery that is also emission free at the point of use. We expect their example will spur further innovation in the industry.”
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