British engineering company JCB has set a new world land speed record with its hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax, recording an average speed of 406.320 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The twin-engine, 32-foot vehicle achieved 400.623 mph on its first run and 412.135 mph on its second run. The two-way average, recorded in accordance with FIA requirements, resulted in a speed of 406.320 mph. The record remains subject to official ratification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the JCB Hydromax comfortably exceeded the previous FIA-recognised hydrogen internal combustion vehicle benchmark of 185.5 mph, set by the BMW H2R in 2004. The achievement also surpasses JCB’s own diesel land speed record. In August 2006, Green drove the JCB Dieselmax to 350.092 mph at Bonneville. Twenty years later, JCB has returned to the same location and exceeded that mark with a vehicle powered by hydrogen combustion.
The Hydromax also surpassed the 303 mph hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle benchmark, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle of any type based on the recorded speed. The record-setting vehicle uses two production-based hydrogen combustion engines developed by JCB. The engines, manufactured at the company’s facility in Foston, Derbyshire, produce a combined 1,600 bhp. The technology is based on engines being developed for JCB construction equipment as part of the company’s £100 million hydrogen programme.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford said the achievement demonstrated the potential of hydrogen combustion technology. He noted that the engines used in the record attempt are production-based units designed for JCB machines and said the project showed that hydrogen combustion technology is available for practical applications today.
Andy Green, who drove the Hydromax, described Bonneville as an important venue in land speed record history. He said the vehicle delivered strong stability and performance during the record attempt and credited the engineering team for the achievement.
JCB Engineering Director Ryan Ballard, who led the project, said the record was the result of adapting a hydrogen construction-equipment engine for extreme-speed operation. He said the team arrived at Bonneville fully prepared and that the vehicle performed as expected. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the achievement demonstrated how innovation, performance and sustainability can work together. He also highlighted the role of motorsport in advancing new technologies.
The record follows an earlier milestone at Bonneville Speed Week, where Hydromax recorded 368.347 mph in the SCTA Blown Gas Streamliner class. JCB’s latest achievement comes as the company prepares to open a new $500 million manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas, expected to employ 1,500 people. The company has also previously set world speed records with the JCB Fastrac tractor and JCB GT backhoe loader.
