British driver shatters world speed record with hydrogen car

British driver Andy Green has achieved a new world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered car, clocking an average speed of nearly 654 kilometers per hour (406 mph) on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. The 64-year-old Green, already renowned as the first and only person to break the sound barrier with a car, significantly surpassed the previous record.

The JCB Hydromax, the vehicle used for the record attempt, is a striking machine that resembles a wingless jet fighter more than a conventional car. Construction equipment manufacturer JCB sponsored the endeavor, aiming to demonstrate the potential of its hydrogen combustion engines. The company has invested approximately 115 million euros in developing these engines and has recently begun equipping its first construction machines with them.

The Bonneville Salt Flats provided an ideal setting for the record attempt due to its flat surface, low friction, dry air, and a shallow water layer beneath the salt crust that helps cool the tires. To account for wind effects, Green completed two runs over a one-mile (1.609 km) distance, traveling in opposite directions. The average speed from these runs was 654 km/h, with the car briefly reaching a top speed of 674 km/h.

Green had a 60-minute window to complete the record, which involved completing the first run, stopping, refueling, performing checks, and then executing the second run. The previous record, set in 2004 by a team of German test drivers using the BMW H2R, stood at approximately 299 km/h. JCB's Hydromax, measuring 9.75 meters long, is equipped with two engines that ignite hydrogen and pressurized air, producing a combined 1,600 horsepower. These engines are adapted versions of those used in JCB's excavators. It is important to note that this record applies to vehicles with hydrogen combustion engines, which differ from the hydrogen fuel cell technology used in many consumer hydrogen cars.