The JCB Hydromax, a hydrogen-powered car, has set a new world land speed record, averaging 406.320 mph across two runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The vehicle reached a top speed of 412.135 mph during its second run, significantly surpassing the previous record of 185.5 mph set by the BMW H2R in 2004. The record is pending official confirmation from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Wing Commander Andy Green, who piloted the car, described the achievement as an "extraordinary" feat of engineering. "This is the first of a new breed," Green told Fox News Digital. "They have created a new class at Bonneville Speed Week for hydrogen racing, the internal combustion engine. And it's not only a new class, but it's also blown every other hydrogen car out of the water with this record."
The development and testing of the JCB Hydromax occurred at an accelerated pace. The team's first design meeting took place just over a year before the record attempt. They had nine months to design and manufacture components, built the car in five weeks, tested it for three weeks in the UK, and then traveled to Bonneville with the goal of setting a record on their initial visit.
Green highlighted the unique technology employed, including running the hydrogen engines at a perfect fuel ratio, something he stated had not been previously achieved for a hydrogen engine. "Instead of five or six years they did it in five or six days," Green noted, referring to the typical timeframe professionals in the field expect for such an accomplishment.
The engineering challenges included managing engine development at altitudes of 6,000 to 7,000 feet and temperatures reaching 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit at the Bonneville Salt Flats. High-energy engine output in a small space created cooling issues, necessitating approximately 400 pounds of ice and water to cool the engines and intake air. The car's system also involved heating the engine oil to approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent water from damaging the bearings upon contact.
Safety measures, particularly the car's unique parachute system, were crucial for slowing the 5,500-pound vehicle from such high speeds. The measured mile at 400 mph took just under nine seconds to complete.
Green, a former Royal Air Force jet fighter pilot, has a background in supersonic vehicles, having set the absolute world land-speed record of 763.035 mph in 1997, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier on land. He saw the Hydromax project not just as a speed challenge but as a demonstration of future zero-carbon technology.
"This is actually showcasing the genuine zero-carbon technology of the future," Green stated. "This is, you know, you can make hydrogen from sunlight and water, put it in a race car and do 400 miles an hour. That's an exciting future for motorsport."
