Wing Commander Andy Green OBE drove the JCB Hydromax to a record speed of 406.320 mph on Tuesday [1], [2].
The achievement demonstrates the high-performance potential of hydrogen-combustion technology, signaling a shift in how engineers may approach zero-emission speed and power.
Green reached the milestone on Aug. 11 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah [1], [4]. The run established a new FIA-sanctioned hydrogen-combustion land-speed record [2], [5]. This specific category distinguishes the feat from the overall land-speed record, which remains the 1997 mark of 763.035 mph.
"It's an extraordinary achievement," Green said [1].
JCB, the manufacturer of the vehicle, designed the Hydromax to prove that hydrogen can serve as a viable fuel for extreme performance. The project aimed to validate the efficiency and power of hydrogen-combustion engines under the most rigorous conditions possible.
"We are proud to have set a new FIA hydrogen-combustion record of 406.320 mph," a JCB spokesperson said [2].
While some reports describe the vehicle as production-based, other sources do not specify the chassis' origin. The primary focus of the effort remained the validation of the fuel source during the high-speed run in the U.S. desert [1], [2].
“"It's an extraordinary achievement."”
This record establishes a performance benchmark for hydrogen as a fuel source, moving it beyond industrial use and into the realm of high-performance engineering. By breaking the 400 mph barrier, JCB provides a proof-of-concept that hydrogen-combustion can compete with traditional fossil fuels in terms of raw power and speed, potentially influencing the development of future carbon-neutral heavy machinery and transport.
