Andy Green, the British retired Royal Air Force pilot renowned for being the first person to break the sound barrier in a land vehicle, has established a new speed record with a hydrogen-powered car.
At the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Green achieved a top speed of 406mph (654km/h) driving JCB's Hydromax, powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines generating a combined 1,600 brake horsepower. This marks the fastest speed ever recorded for a hydrogen combustion engine vehicle.
Previous Records and Milestones
- In 1997, Green piloted the jet-powered ThrustSSC at 763mph (1,228km/h) across Nevada's Black Rock Desert, becoming the first and only person to break the sound barrier on land.
- Twenty years ago, he set a diesel land speed record exceeding 350mph (563km/h) with the JCB Dieselmax.
- The new hydrogen record more than doubles the previous official hydrogen combustion record of 185.5mph set in 2004.
Reflecting on the achievement, Green said, "Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, 20 years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege. This record is a huge achievement by a world class team and superb technology."
Lord Anthony Bamford, JCB chairman, highlighted the significance of British engineering in this accomplishment, noting the company's ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of land speed using alternative fuels.
Earlier in May, the Hydromax had reached 208mph during testing at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, demonstrating steady progress toward this record-breaking run.
