JCB Hydromax Sets 406.320mph Hydrogen Land Speed Record

JCB Hydromax has set a 406.320mph world land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, becoming the fastest hydrogen internal combustion vehicle to travel on land. The record is subject to official ratification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The twin-engined, 32-foot car recorded 400.623mph on its first run and 412.135mph on its second run. The two-way average of 406.320mph was recorded in accordance with FIA rules, with Wing Commander Andy Green OBE driving the vehicle.

The result exceeds the previous FIA-officiated hydrogen internal combustion benchmark of 185.5mph, set by the BMW H2R in 2004. It also surpasses JCB’s own 350.092mph diesel land speed record set by JCB Dieselmax at Bonneville in August 2006.

JCB Hydromax Uses Production-Based Hydrogen Engines

The JCB Hydromax is powered by two of JCB’s production-based hydrogen internal combustion engines, which have a combined output of 1,600bhp. The engines were manufactured at JCB’s engine factory in Foston, Derbyshire, and are also being used in JCB machines and equipment produced in the UK.

The engines form part of JCB’s £100 million hydrogen programme. JCB said more than 150 hydrogen combustion engines have been produced so far, with the first machines now in production.

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has led the company’s hydrogen engine project, said the record attempt was intended to demonstrate the performance of its production-based hydrogen engine technology.

JCB Hydromax Becomes Fastest Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle

At 406.320mph, the Hydromax also exceeds the 303mph hydrogen fuel-cell land speed mark, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle of any type, according to JCB.

The record was set in Category A, Group XIV, Class 7 of the FIA World Flying Record Start Land Speed Record classification. Before the record attempt, the Hydromax had recorded 368.347mph at the Bonneville Speed Week, setting an SCTA record in the Blown Gas Streamliner class.
The record attempt was conducted by the engineering team led by JCB Engineering Director Ryan Ballard, with Andy Green at the wheel. Green previously drove the JCB Dieselmax to its 350.092mph FIA world diesel land speed record at Bonneville in 2006.
The latest record comes ahead of the opening of JCB’s new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas, which is expected to employ 1,500 people manufacturing machines for the US market.

JCB began developing hydrogen-powered construction equipment in 2021, when it unveiled prototype hydrogen-powered versions of a backhoe loader and Loadall telescopic handler. The company said a team of 150 engineers has been working on its hydrogen engine project as part of the £100 million investment.