Wing Commander Andy Green set a new land-speed record in a hydrogen-powered car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah [1, 2].
The achievement serves as a demonstration of the performance potential of hydrogen as a clean-energy fuel. Organizers said the run was a show of force for hydrogen power [2, 4].
Green, a 64-year-old retired Royal Air Force pilot, drove the Hydromax vehicle on Tuesday, Aug. 8 [1, 2, 3]. During the record-breaking run, the vehicle reached a maximum speed of 406.320 mph (653.9 km/h) [1]. Some reports rounded this figure to 406 mph (654 km/h) [3].
This marks the fastest speed ever achieved by a hydrogen-powered vehicle [1, 2, 5]. Green is no stranger to high-speed records, though he noted the physical demands of the new vehicle. "The inside of the car was probably a little hotter than in the jet-powered vehicle," Green said [6].
The run took place in the high-desert environment of the Utah salt flats, a traditional site for speed trials. Green said he was satisfied with the result following the event. "It’s an extraordinary achievement," Green said [7].
He added that the experience of breaking the record was a significant professional milestone. "It’s a huge privilege to smash the record," Green said [8].
“"It’s an extraordinary achievement."”
This record shifts the perception of hydrogen from a purely utilitarian energy source for shipping or industry to a high-performance fuel. By achieving speeds over 400 mph, the Hydromax project provides a proof-of-concept that clean-energy alternatives can match the power output of traditional combustion or jet engines, potentially accelerating investment in hydrogen infrastructure.
