Hydrogen Car Hits 406 MPH, Breaks Land Speed Record

Twenty years after breaking the diesel land speed record, Wing Commander Andy Green just proved that zero-emission vehicles can go even faster.

Green piloted the JCB Hydromax to an average speed of 406.320 mph across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered car and the fastest zero-emission vehicle in history. The British pilot hit 400.623 mph on his first run, then turned around and pushed even harder to reach 412.135 mph on the return.

The achievement breaks Green's own diesel record of 317 mph, set at the same location in 2006. Green, a retired RAF pilot, also holds the outright land speed record at 763 mph and remains the only person to break the sound barrier on land.

The 32-foot Hydromax runs on twin hydrogen combustion engines built by JCB, a British construction equipment manufacturer. Each engine produces 800 horsepower for a combined 1,600 hp. The company adapted these engines from the same hydrogen units already powering their construction diggers as part of a $130 million clean fuel initiative.

Unlike battery-powered vehicles, hydrogen combustion engines release only water vapor and small amounts of nitrogen oxide. The Hydromax's record crushes the previous fastest electric vehicle, the Buckeye Bullet 3, which hit 341 mph in 2016.

"The car was terrific, stable, strong and fast," Green said after his record runs. "Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, twenty years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege."

The Ripple Effect

The Hydromax's success demonstrates that hydrogen combustion technology has moved beyond research labs into real-world performance. JCB already uses these engines in their construction equipment, proving the technology works for everyday applications, not just speed records.

The timing matters too. JCB is opening a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas, positioning hydrogen technology as a practical alternative to traditional fuel engines. What started as an experimental power source just proved it can deliver extreme performance while keeping emissions near zero.

This record shows clean energy doesn't mean compromising on power.