British engineering company JCB has announced that its hydrogen-powered Hydromax car piloted by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, also known as the Fastest Man on Earth due to his existing land speed world record that broke the sound barrier, has set a new hydrogen category land speed record of 406.320 mph.
“The record was just made,” a company spokesperson explained in an email to The Debrief on Tuesday, August 11th, in the immediate hours after the record was set.
JCB also said that the new record, which included several runs across the Bonneville Salt Flats to reach the average speed that will go into the books, precedes the announcement of a new manufacturing facility designed to advance the wider adoption of sustainable hydrogen power.
1660 BHP Hydrogen-Powered Engines Shatter Previous World Record Mark
According to a statement announcing the historic accomplishment emailed to The Debrief, the 32-foot Hydromax broke the previous Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)-officiated record for hydrogen internal combustion engines of 185.5 set in 2004.
While still short of the 763.035 mph record set by Green in a gas-powered engine when he became the only person to break the sound barrier on land, the new figure also exceeded the 303 mph hydrogen fuel cell mark set by another driver. Assuming the FIA certifies the record, it will surpass the fastest ride by any hydrogen-powered vehicle in history.
The two digger engines propelling Geen and the JCB Hydromax to the new record produced a combined 1660 bhp. Notably, the engines were produced at the new Foston, Derbyshire, UK, engine factory, which the event was designed to promote.
“They are the same engines now powering JCB machines and equipment rolling off production lines in the UK as part of the company’s £100 million hydrogen program,” the company said in an emailed statement.
JCB Chairman Lord Anthony Bamford, who leads the company’s hydrogen effort and first proposed the world record attempt, said the record builds on previous records set by the company’s engines, including a diesel land speed record set by their Dieselmax engine.
“Today we have done it again — this time with engines powered by hydrogen,” the CEO said. “This record was set by production-based engines, the same engines powering JCB diggers right now.”
“That is the point of JCB Hydromax,” Lord Mabford added, “it shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions.”
Project leader and JCB Engineering Director, Ryan Ballard, agreed, while also calling his role in setting the new record “a huge privilege.”
“This record is a huge achievement by a world-class team and superb technology,” Ballard said.
Innovation, Performance, Speed, and Sustainability Can Go Hand in Hand
When discussing the significance of the new hydrogen-powered world record, Ballard gave the credit to the engineering team, “which took a hydrogen digger engine and made it the fastest of its kind on earth.”
“This has been an amazing challenge from the outset of it being set in February last year,” Ballard said of the long road to the new world record. “We came here fully prepared, and the car delivered.”
After setting yet another land speed world record, this time in a hydrogen-powered vehicle, Andy Green also credited the JCB engineering team and the vehicle that carried him back into history. The Fastest Man on Earth also highlighted the importance of sustainable hydrogen power, which has motivated JCB and his team to attempt this first-of-its-kind feat.
“This is a truly historic milestone for motorsport, showcasing how innovation, performance, speed, and sustainability can go hand in hand,” Green said.
President of the FIA, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, also heralded the achievement, while noting the catalytic role motorsport has played in “pushing the boundaries of what is possible” in automotive technology. The FIA president also noted the significance of showcasing hydrogen-powered technologies “for the future of sustainable mobility.”
“For over 100 years, the FIA has proudly played a central role officiating land speed record attempts,” President Ben Sulayem said. “I would like to thank our Member Club, the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, for their support during this record attempt and offer my congratulations to Lord Bamford, Andy Green OBE, and to everyone involved in this remarkable achievement.”
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and has spent the last six years as Associate News Editor and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him at christopher@thedebrief.org