JCB's Hydromax sets hydrogen land speed record

JCB has set a new world record for hydrogen-powered vehicles with its Hydromax streamliner in Bonneville, Utah.

Following on from last week’s Southern California Timing Association's Blown Gas Streamliner class record of 368.347 mph the car, powered by two production-based turbocharged digger engines and driven by overall land speed record holder Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, recorded an average speed 400.623 mph on its first run on Tuesday morning then registered 412.135 mph on its second run to give an average of 406.320 mph in the FIA’s Category A, Group XIV - Class 7 FIA World Flying Record Start Land Speed Record.

“Bonneville is the spiritual home of the world land speed record, and JCB Hydromax has just written itself into that history,” Green said. “The car was terrific — stable, strong and fast. Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, twenty years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege. 

“This record is a huge achievement by a world class team and superb technology.”

The record demolished the previous long-standing speed record for a hydrogen combustion vehicle of 185.5 mph, set by the BMW H2R in 2004, and also beats the 303 mph benchmark for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered car of any kind. It also eclipsed JCB’s diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph from 20 years ago.

“Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power,” said JCB chairman Lord Bamford. “Today we have done it again – this time with engines powered by hydrogen. This record was set by production-based engines, the same engines powering JCB diggers right now. 

“That is the point of JCB Hydromax: it shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions.”

JCB Engineering Director Ryan Ballard, who lead the Hydromax project, added, “This record belongs 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 the it being set in February last year. We came here fully prepared, and the car delivered.”

As well as hydrogen and diesel land speed records, JCB also holds world records for the fastest backhoe loader with the JCB GT at 72.58 mph and the world’s fastest tractor at 135.191 mph with the JCB Fastrac.

Commenting on the achievement, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, called it a “historic milestone”, adding that it shows “how innovation, performance, speed, and sustainability can go hand in hand.”

“Motorsport has always been a catalyst for technological progress pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” he said. “This new land speed record continues this tradition, showcasing the potential of hydrogen combustion for the future of sustainable mobility. 

“For over 100 years, the FIA has proudly played a central role officiating land speed record attempts. 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.”