On Tuesday, August 12, 2026, the JCB Hydromax, a twin-engined 32-foot hydrogen-powered car, shattered the world land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States. Piloted by Wing Commander Andy Green, OBE, the vehicle completed two runs, recording speeds of 400.623 mph and 412.135 mph, resulting in an average speed of 406.320 mph. This marks the fastest speed ever achieved by a hydrogen-powered internal combustion car, surpassing the previous record of 185.5 mph set by the BMW H2R in 2004.

The record is pending official confirmation by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Green described the accomplishment as an "extraordinary" engineering feat, noting that typically reaching 400 mph takes three to five years, but the JCB Hydromax team built the car in five weeks and tested it for three weeks in the UK before arriving at Bonneville. They aimed to set a record on their first visit using new hydrogen engine technology running at a perfect fuel ratio, which had never been achieved before.

After about a week of testing, the team determined the oil needed to be heated to approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Green also mentioned the track width of 105 feet and described gently steering the "beast" of a car down the track. The JCB Hydromax team has created a new class at Bonneville Speed Week for hydrogen racing internal combustion engines, and this record has surpassed all previous hydrogen car performances.

This achievement highlights the potential of hydrogen as a high-performance fuel and marks a significant milestone in automotive speed records.

Sources