Andy Green Aims for New Land Speed Record in Hydrogen-Powered JCB
Andy Green, the first person to break the sound barrier in a car, is attempting a new land speed record in Utah. He will drive the hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax, aiming to surpass previous records and demonstrate hydrogen's potential as a clean fuel.
Key takeaways
- Andy Green is attempting a new land speed record in a hydrogen-powered vehicle at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
- The vehicle, JCB Hydromax, is powered by two 1,600 horsepower hydrogen internal combustion engines.
- Green aims to surpass previous diesel, hydrogen, and electric vehicle speed records.
- The project also intends to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen as a clean energy fuel.
- JCB has invested significantly in developing zero-emission hydrogen engines.
What Happened
British driver Andy Green is returning to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to attempt a new land speed record in a hydrogen-powered vehicle. This endeavor follows his 1997 achievement of breaking the sound barrier and setting an absolute land speed record of 763.035 mph. His latest attempt aims to establish a fresh benchmark for speed in a vehicle powered by hydrogen.
The vehicle, named the JCB Hydromax, is a 32-foot streamliner built by the British construction equipment manufacturer JCB. It is propelled by two modified construction machinery engines that have been converted into hydrogen internal combustion units, producing a combined 1,600 horsepower. The engines ignite a mixture of ambient air and pressurized hydrogen gas.
Green is seeking to surpass not only his own previous diesel-powered land speed record of 350.092 mph but also the existing records for hydrogen internal combustion cars (185.5 mph) and electric vehicles (341.3 mph).
Why It Matters
Beyond pursuing a new speed record, Green aims to showcase the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source. He has described hydrogen as the "fuel of the future." JCB has invested significantly in developing hydrogen engines, which they state produce zero carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions. This project could serve as a demonstration of the capabilities of hydrogen-powered engines.
Key Facts
- British driver Andy Green is attempting a new land speed record in Utah.
- The attempt is taking place at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
- The vehicle is the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot hydrogen-powered streamliner.
- It is powered by two modified construction machinery engines totaling 1,600 horsepower.
- Green previously set a diesel-powered land speed record of 350.092 mph in 2006.
- In 1997, Green broke the sound barrier and set the absolute land speed record at 763.035 mph.
- The current record for hydrogen internal combustion cars is 185.5 mph.
- During practice runs, Green reached a speed of 368.347 mph.
- The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the global authority for official record validation.
- JCB has invested over $134 million in developing hydrogen engines.
Background
Andy Green is a retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot. His supersonic speed record in 1997 was achieved using a twin-jet vehicle in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. The JCB Hydromax project represents Green's return to high-speed record attempts at the age of 64, following an invitation from JCB.
Sources reviewed
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