British engineering excellence has once again made history, as JCB has set a new world land speed record with its hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax, reaching an astonishing 406.320 mph across the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

Driven by renowned racing driver and former RAF pilot Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the purpose-built hydrogen-powered vehicle smashed previous records to become the fastest hydrogen internal combustion engine car ever recorded.

A New Milestone for Hydrogen Technology

To achieve the record, the JCB Hydromax completed two official runs in opposite directions, as required by FIA regulations. The vehicle recorded 400.623 mph on its first run and an incredible 412.135 mph on its second, producing an average speed of 406.320 mph.

This remarkable achievement comfortably surpasses the previous FIA-recognised hydrogen internal combustion engine record of 185.5 mph, set by the BMW H2R in 2004. The record is currently awaiting formal ratification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The Fastest Hydrogen Vehicle Ever Built

Not only has the Hydromax become the fastest hydrogen internal combustion vehicle in history, but its record-breaking speed also exceeds the previous hydrogen fuel cell benchmark of 303 mph, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle of any type ever recorded.

The record was achieved in the FIA’s Category A, Group XIV, Class 7 World Flying Start Land Speed Record category.

Powered by Production-Based JCB Hydrogen Engines

At the heart of the Hydromax are two specially developed JCB hydrogen combustion engines, producing a combined 1,600 bhp. Significantly, these are based on the same hydrogen engines being manufactured at JCB’s engine facility in Foston, Derbyshire, as part of the company’s £100 million investment in hydrogen technology.

These production-based engines are already powering hydrogen-fuelled JCB machines coming off the production line, demonstrating that the technology is not only capable of breaking world records but is also being developed for real-world applications across construction and agricultural sectors.

What This Means for the Future

For customers across construction, agriculture and industry, the Hydromax record represents more than just a remarkable engineering achievement. It showcases JCB’s commitment to developing practical hydrogen-powered solutions that can help reduce emissions while maintaining the performance, reliability and productivity operators expect.

As a proud JCB dealer, Gunn JCB is excited to see the continued development of hydrogen technology and what it could mean for the future of machinery. This latest world record is a powerful demonstration that hydrogen combustion is not only viable but capable of delivering exceptional performance on a global stage.

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