Andy Green is attempting a new land-speed record this week at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah using a hydrogen-powered vehicle [1, 2, 3].
The attempt serves as a high-profile test of hydrogen fuel capabilities. By pushing the JCB Hydromax to extreme speeds, the team aims to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen for future high-speed travel [2, 3, 5].
Green, a 64-year-old former Royal Air Force fighter pilot, is the only person to have ever broken the sound barrier in a car [1, 4]. He achieved that milestone in 1997 when he reached a speed of 764 mph in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada [2, 6].
For this current effort, Green is utilizing the JCB Hydromax, which features new wheels designed for the salt surface [1, 2]. The project focuses on the intersection of extreme performance and sustainable energy sources, a shift from the traditional combustion engines used in previous record attempts [3, 5].
The Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover provide the necessary flat, hard surface for such high-velocity runs [2, 3]. The window for the attempt is scheduled for the week of Aug. 10–12 [1, 2, 4].
Green's return to the salt flats marks a significant personal and technical milestone. While his 1997 record remains a historic achievement, the current mission is less about the absolute speed of the sound barrier and more about the propulsion technology driving the vehicle [2, 3].
“Andy Green is the only person to have broken the sound barrier in a car.”
This attempt represents a pivot in land-speed racing from pure speed to technological demonstration. By using a hydrogen-powered vehicle, the project seeks to prove that zero-emission fuels can sustain the extreme power requirements of supersonic or near-supersonic travel, potentially influencing the development of future sustainable transport systems.
