'Boris must return if the next Tory leader fails'

Lord Bamford smiles broadly as he describes how a total of 800 students study engineering-related subjects there every day, alongside a wider curriculum. After the Academy, while some continue their engineering studies at university, many come to JCB itself or one of our partner academies, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Toyota, he says. We are producing people who can be real engineers and that is what Britain needs.

What really excites Lord Bamford, however, are the new JCB machines, some variants of old models, others entirely innovative. We have a lot of new products coming and they are our cornerstone, they keep us going, he says. At the heart of the company's production are upgraded versions of its popular backhoe loader and 360-degree excavators.

But Lord Bamford takes time to highlight a pothole repair machine developed by JCB which he says could help solve this very serious problem, which is now claiming lives across the UK. He says local authorities seem reluctant to listen, but are gradually getting there.

Lord Bamford also has a keen interest in alternative fuels and describes JCB's current development of hydrogen machines as innovative and exciting. As of this month, the company now has prototypes of the world's first hydrogen-powered excavators working on construction sites in the UK, as it develops zero and low carbon technologies for widespread use in the heavy construction equipment sector. Ultra-efficient diesel engines “We produce, we already use 50% less fuel than ten years ago and our emissions are significantly reduced,” he says. But fossil fuels are poorly regarded for all kinds of reasons, and we will eventually have to get rid of them.

Lord Bamford tells how JCB has spent the last four years developing a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine. “We have had incredible success and this is a world first. These remarkable engines produce no emissions, only water,” he says. Yet the JCB boss complains that politicians and officials in Whitehall simply do not recognize the potential of hydrogen and seem fascinated and obsessed with battery technology, which he describes as a bad solution.

JCB has invested in batteries and we produce a range of light electric vehicles which have been successful, says Bamford. But for heavier machines such as excavators, and even cars, relying solely on batteries is a big mistake.

Although JCB does not make cars, its research and engineering background means that Lord Bamford's views carry considerable weight in the global automotive industry. Europe's major carmakers are racing to meet a UK-EU deadline of 2035, after which the sale of new petrol and diesel cars should be banned, but they rely heavily on batteries made in China .

I don't think this 2035 deadline will come true, says Lord Bamford, highlighting Chinese dominance not only in global electric vehicle (EV) production, the People's Republic produces around 60% of all electric vehicles manufactured in the world, but also its virtual maintenance of the supply of rare electric vehicles. earth elements essential for the production of batteries for electric vehicles.

It's too late. China has already captured this market and will be able to flood Britain and Europe with heavily subsidized electric vehicles, says Bamford. The EU has already imposed 35% tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles and the UK is likely to follow suit.

He insists that, in his view, the real solution for cars is already almost here: hybrids with a small battery and an internal combustion engine powered by hydrogen. These would be efficient, not too heavy and you wouldn't have to plug them in, meaning no range concerns or need for nationwide charging infrastructure and much more convenient if you live in a city. Lord Bamford points out that hydrogen can be produced in industrial quantities through electrolysis, a process which can itself be powered by renewable electricity, creating what he calls a zero-emissions answer to our energy problems.