Full Breakdown
Andy Green Targets New Hydrogen Land Speed Record at Bonneville
8/12/2026, 12:50:14 AM
Core Event: Record-Seeking Run with a Hydrogen-Powered Streamliner
British driver Andy Green, the only person to have broken the sound barrier in a car, returned to Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats to attempt an official FIA world record in a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The 32-foot JCB Hydromax, with two hydrogen internal-combustion engines delivering 1,600 hp, was slated to make two timed runs on a 10-mile straightaway. To qualify, Green must exceed the existing hydrogen-engine record of 185.5 mph and the electric-vehicle record of 341.3 mph.
Background & Context: From Supersonic Jets to Hydrogen Power
In 1997 Green set the outright land-speed record of 763.035 mph in the jet-powered Thrust SSC, the only car to exceed the speed of sound. He later set a diesel benchmark of 350.092 mph at Bonneville. The current attempt revisits that diesel record using hydrogen, a fuel Green has called “the fuel of the future.” JCB engineered the Hydromax by adapting engines from its heavy-machinery line.
Data & Statistics
- Engine output: 1,600 hp from two hydrogen-combustion units.
- Practice speed: 368.347 mph recorded the week before the official attempt.
- Target record: 406.320 mph for the hydrogen-engine category, per the FIA.
- Investment: JCB has spent more than US $134 million on hydrogen-engine development, claiming zero tail-pipe CO2 emissions.
Official Statements & Responses
The FIA confirmed its role as the sanctioning body. It noted that hydrogen’s environmental benefit hinges on production methods, with most hydrogen today derived from fossil fuels; JCB has contracted a limited supply of renewable-generated “green hydrogen.” Bonneville National Inc., which manages the event, highlighted the historic nature of the run, noting that no hydrogen-powered car has previously approached Green’s 1997 speeds.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you’re serious about emissions, you have to be serious about hydrogen, and a land speed project is the perfect way to prove it,” — JCB Chair Anthony Bamford
- “We’re managing the risks very carefully,” — Andy Green
Why It Matters: Demonstrating Hydrogen’s Viability
The attempt tests hydrogen internal-combustion technology under extreme conditions. Proponents say success could boost confidence in hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative where batteries face weight or range limits. Critics point out that the carbon footprint depends on the hydrogen source, as most global production remains fossil-fuel based. The $134 million investment underscores corporate interest in positioning hydrogen as a competitive energy carrier.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No source provided a definitive post-run speed, leaving the official outcome pending FIA verification.
