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March 27, 2025 – Two weeks after clocking 368 mph, the JCB Hydromax has officially become the fastest hydrogen-powered car on Earth. Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green, the 1,600-horsepower machine averaged 406.320 mph (653.909 km/h) over two runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats, securing a new FIA world land speed record.
The feat is more than a number: it’s a statement that hydrogen combustion can perform at the extreme edge of automotive engineering. Green, who previously held the absolute land speed record at 763 mph in ThrustSSC, described the Hydromax as “terrific – stable, strong and fast.” He added, “Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, twenty years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege.”
The team made two runs in opposite directions, as required by FIA rules. The first pass hit 400.623 mph (644.740 km/h), and the return run averaged 412.135 mph (663.267 km/h). The combined average of 406.320 mph crushed the previous hydrogen record of 185.5 mph (298.5 km/h) and the diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph (563.418 km/h) set by the JCB Dieselmax in 2006.
All four runs were timed and certified by FIA officials. The sheer consistency across the two passes underscores the reliability of the hydrogen powertrain under extreme thermal and aerodynamic loads.
The 32-foot (9.75-meter) Hydromax is powered by two JCB “production-based” hydrogen internal combustion engines. Each unit is derived from the same engine used in JCB’s construction equipment currently rolling off assembly lines in the UK. Combined, they deliver 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) with zero tailpipe emissions – only water vapor.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford emphasized the engineering continuity: “Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power. Today we have done it again – this time with engines powered by hydrogen.” He added that the Hydromax “shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions.”
The record arrives at a pivotal moment for hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. While battery-electric vehicles dominate passenger cars, heavy machinery and long-haul transport still lack a viable zero-emission alternative. JCB’s demonstration that its production hydrogen engine can endure 400+ mph conditions provides a powerful proof point for industrial hydrogen adoption.
“This isn’t a one-off lab experiment,” said Dr. Elena Vasquez, a powertrain researcher at the University of Birmingham, who was not involved in the project. “JCB has taken a commercial engine, adapted it for extreme performance, and shown it can survive the harshest thermal and mechanical stress. That’s a strong signal that hydrogen combustion is ready for real-world applications beyond the salt flats.”
Green, a retired RAF pilot, remains the only person to break the sound barrier on land (763.035 mph in ThrustSSC, 1997). He also drove the Dieselmax to its record in 2006. The Hydromax record makes him the only driver to have held both the diesel and hydrogen land speed records.
“Driving the same salt flats 20 years apart, with two different fuels, is a rare privilege,” Green said. “The team’s engineering excellence is extraordinary.”
JCB has not announced specific plans for a production hydrogen performance car, but the company confirmed that the record-breaking engine is already being used in JCB’s backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers. The UK government recently awarded JCB a £15 million grant to expand hydrogen engine manufacturing.
The Hydromax itself will be displayed at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where Green is expected to do demonstration runs. JCB is also in early talks with the FIA about a potential hydrogen class for future land speed record attempts.
The record drew praise from both environmental groups and traditional motorsport figures. “This proves that hydrogen can be a serious player in the decarbonization of heavy transport,” said Claire O’Neill, CEO of the Hydrogen Council. “JCB has taken a bold step that moves hydrogen from concept to concrete achievement.”
Meanwhile, the Bonneville Salt Flats remain a fragile natural environment. The Bureau of Land Management has been monitoring the site’s salt crust thickness, which has declined in recent years. JCB stated that the team adhered to strict environmental protocols, including recovery of any debris and minimal disturbance to the salt surface.
With the Hydromax record, JCB has not only etched its name into the history books but also ignited a new conversation about hydrogen’s role in the future of high-performance, zero-emission mobility.
