Andy Green returns to Bonneville with hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax to chase new speed record

Andy Green, a retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot who once set the supersonic land speed record, is back at the Bonneville Salt Flats to test a hydrogen-powered car. The vehicle, called the JCB Hydromax, measures 32 feet in length, is painted bright yellow, and runs on two hydrogen combustion engines adapted from construction equipment, together producing 1,600 hp. Green aims to exceed his earlier diesel-powered record of 350.092 mph while also targeting the existing hydrogen internal-combustion and electric vehicle speed marks.

In a recent practice run he reached 368.347 mph, but an official record will require a certified attempt before the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile on Tuesday. JCB has invested heavily in hydrogen technology, promoting it as a carbon-free alternative, though the company acknowledges that most hydrogen currently derives from fossil fuels. Safety measures are emphasized due to the high pressure and flammability of hydrogen, and Green has spent months mastering the car’s handling and parachute deployment on the salt surface.