JCB Sets World Land Speed Record for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle with Hydromax

British engineering firm JCB set a new world land speed record for hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles with its hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax, reaching an average speed of 654 km/h. SİF İş Makinaları, the JCB distributor in Turkey, noted that the record is an important indicator of JCB's investments in hydrogen technologies.

JCB broke a new world land speed record by reaching an average speed of 654 km/h during speed trials with the hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

During two runs conducted on 11 August, Hydromax reached 644.9 km/h in the first run and 663.3 km/h in the second run. The average of the two runs, 654 km/h, was recorded as the highest speed achieved by a hydrogen-powered internal combustion automobile.

The record is expected to receive official approval from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body of motorsport.

Surpassed JCB's diesel record from 20 years ago
The 32-foot-long, twin-engine JCB Hydromax completed the two required bidirectional runs under FIA regulations within one hour. The vehicle was driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, who previously set the world land speed record with JCB Dieselmax.

The speed achieved by Hydromax significantly surpassed the FIA-approved hydrogen internal combustion speed record set by BMW H2R at 298.5 km/h in 2004.

JCB Hydromax also exceeded the 563.4 km/h diesel land speed record set by JCB Dieselmax at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2006.

Thus, 20 years later, JCB improved its own land speed record, this time using hydrogen internal combustion engine technology that produces no CO₂ at the exhaust.

Two production-based hydrogen engines used in Hydromax
One notable aspect of the record attempt was that JCB Hydromax used JCB's production-based hydrogen engine technology.

Hayati Kösoğlu, General Manager of SİF İş Makinaları, noted that the vehicle used two hydrogen internal combustion engines produced at JCB's Foston motor plant in Derbyshire, England.

The engines, producing a total of 1,600 horsepower, were developed within JCB's GBP 100 million hydrogen programme and are also used in machinery and equipment coming from production lines in the United Kingdom.

Kösoğlu emphasized that the success achieved by Hydromax should not be evaluated solely as a land speed record, and pointed out that hydrogen internal combustion engine technology has significant potential for construction equipment.

"We do not view this record merely as a land speed record"
Hayati Kösoğlu, General Manager of SİF İş Makinaları, said that the success of JCB Hydromax is important in terms of the company's vision for future technological transformation.

Kösoğlu stated, "Although a land speed record was set with JCB Hydromax, the vehicle contains two production-based hydrogen excavator engines produced at JCB's motor plant in Foston, Derbyshire, England. In other words, this record was set with the same production-based engines that power JCB excavators."

Pointing out that Hydromax operated with a hydrogen internal combustion engine that produces no CO₂ while reaching an average speed of 654 km/h, Kösoğlu expressed that this technology is an important step for sustainable mobility.

Kösoğlu said, "We do not view this record merely as a land speed record; it is an important step that defines JCB's future vision. Our primary goal is to be the pioneer of these changes in the construction equipment world."

New era in hydrogen technology for construction equipment
JCB's Hydromax project demonstrates the stage reached in efforts to use hydrogen not only in passenger vehicles and motorsport, but also as an alternative energy source in heavy-duty construction equipment.

The company is developing hydrogen internal combustion engine technology, particularly as a solution for heavy-duty applications that can leverage the advantages of existing engine architecture. The Hydromax speed record is noteworthy as it demonstrates the potential of this technology in applications requiring high power and performance.