Andy Green Sets Hydrogen Car Speed Record at 406mph — SkimNews
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Andy Green reached 406mph (654km/h) in a hydrogen-powered car at the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new world record for hydrogen combustion vehicles
- JCB's Hydromax vehicle, powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with 1,600 brake horsepower, surpassed the previous hydrogen speed record of 185.5mph by more than double
- Andy Green became the first person to break the sound barrier on land in 1997, driving the ThrustSSC at 763mph (1,228km/h) across Nevada's Black Rock Desert
- JCB developed the Hydromax car to demonstrate British engineering prowess with hydrogen power, two decades after setting a diesel speed record with the JCB Dieselmax
- Lord Anthony Bamford said JCB had shown what British engineering could achieve with diesel in 2004 and had now repeated the feat using hydrogen fuel
- Andy Green called the hydrogen speed record a 'huge privilege' and credited a 'world class team' and advanced technology for the achievement
Why it matters: JCB’s successful demonstration of high-speed hydrogen combustion technology marks a tangible advancement in alternative fuel applications for heavy machinery and transport, showcasing a real-world performance benchmark that could influence future investment and development in zero-carbon engines—particularly as the company leverages its engineering reputation beyond construction equipment.
Ask SkimNews
