Key facts
- Andy Green, the first and only person to break the sound barrier in a car, is attempting a new land speed record.
- The attempt will take place at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats on Tuesday.
- Green will drive the JCB Hydromax, a 32ft hydrogen-powered car with two 1,600 horsepower engines.
- He aims to set a new record for hydrogen internal combustion engines and surpass his previous diesel record of 350.092 mph.
- The project also aims to promote hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative.
British driver Andy Green, renowned as the first and only person to break the sound barrier in a car, is set to attempt another land speed record this week at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Green will drive the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot hydrogen-powered vehicle, aiming to surpass his previous diesel-powered record of 350.092 mph (563.4 km/h) set twenty years ago.
The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot's endeavor also serves as a platform to promote hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative. The JCB Hydromax is equipped with two hydrogen internal combustion engines, adapted from the company's construction machinery, producing a combined 1,600 horsepower. This attempt also targets existing world records for hydrogen internal combustion engines (185.5 mph) and electric vehicles (341.3 mph).
Green achieved a practice speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 km/h) last week, but official recognition requires certification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. He acknowledged that the peak speed is unknown, embracing the uncertainty as part of the adventure. This attempt will not approach the supersonic speeds he achieved in 1997 with a jet-powered car, which reached 763.035 mph (1,227.98 km/h).
JCB's chairman, Anthony Bamford, highlighted the company's investment of over $134 million in hydrogen engines, emphasizing hydrogen's potential for heavy industries. However, the article notes that hydrogen's environmental benefit depends on its production source, with most currently derived from fossil fuels. JCB has secured a deal for green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, though it represents a small fraction of global production. The combustion of hydrogen also presents unique safety challenges, which Green stated are being carefully managed through rigorous testing and training.