Retired Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green set a new world land-speed record for a hydrogen-powered car on Tuesday [1, 2].
The achievement aims to prove that hydrogen combustion can provide high-performance power, potentially accelerating the adoption of hydrogen-vehicle technology in broader transport sectors [2].
Driving the JCB Hydromax at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Green reached a top speed of 406.320 mph, or 653.908 km/h [1, 2, 3, 4]. The run significantly surpasses the previous record for hydrogen-powered vehicles, which stood at 185.5 mph [5].
Green is a veteran of high-speed attempts. In 1997, he set the overall land-speed record by reaching 763.035 mph [5]. While the JCB Hydromax did not reach those supersonic levels, Green 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 [4].
The project was designed to showcase the viability of hydrogen as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels without sacrificing power. A JCB spokesperson said that hydrogen combustion can deliver performance comparable to traditional fuels [2].
The run took place on Aug. 11, with results reported across multiple outlets the following day [2, 3]. The event underscores a growing interest in hydrogen combustion engines, which differ from hydrogen fuel cells by burning the gas in an internal combustion engine to generate power [2].
“"Hydrogen combustion can deliver performance comparable to traditional fuels."”
This record represents a shift in the hydrogen narrative from purely efficient, low-speed urban transport to high-performance applications. By doubling the previous record, the JCB Hydromax project provides a proof-of-concept that hydrogen can meet the power density requirements of heavy-duty or high-speed machinery, potentially influencing the development of carbon-neutral industrial engines.
