JCB's 1,600-hp Hydromax hydrogen car aims to break 350 mph land speed record
JCB, the British construction equipment manufacturer, has unveiled Hydromax, a hydrogen-powered land speed car designed to exceed 350 mph on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. The 32-foot-long vehicle is powered by two hydrogen combustion engines, each producing 800 horsepower, derived from JCB's excavator engine technology. The car will be driven by Andy Green, who set the diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph in JCB's Dieselmax in 2006. JCB has invested approximately £100 million in hydrogen combustion engine development, aiming to offer a low-carbon alternative for heavy machinery. Hydromax targets surpassing the current hydrogen internal combustion record of 187.62 mph set by BMW's H2R and the 303 mph fuel-cell record by Ohio State University's Buckeye Bullet 2. The project serves as both a testing ground and a showcase for JCB's hydrogen technology. The record attempt is scheduled for August.
Key facts
- JCB's Hydromax is a hydrogen-powered land speed car targeting 350 mph.
- The car is 32 feet long and powered by two hydrogen combustion engines producing 1,600 hp total.
- Andy Green, who set the diesel land speed record in 2006, will drive Hydromax.
- JCB has invested around £100 million in hydrogen combustion engine development.
- The current hydrogen internal combustion record is 187.62 mph (BMW H2R).
- The fuel-cell record is 303 mph (Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet 2).
- Hydromax's engines are derived from JCB's excavator engine technology.
- The record attempt will take place in August on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Entities
Artists
- Andy Green
Institutions
- JCB
- BMW
- Ohio State University
Locations
- Bonneville Salt Flats
- Utah
- United States