60-Year-Old Andy Green Drives Hydrogen-Powered JCB Hydromax in Land Speed Record Bid

On August 12, British driver Andy Green attempted to break the land speed record in the hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax race car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. Green previously broke the sound barrier in 1997 by driving the ThrustSSC rocket car at 763.035 mph (approximately 1,227.986 km/h)—a feat that remains the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)-certified world land speed record to this day. The JCB Hydromax, built by UK-based construction equipment manufacturer JCB, measures 9.75 meters in length and is powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines, each producing 800 horsepower for a combined output of 1,600 horsepower. During practice runs last week, Green achieved a speed of 368.347 mph (approximately 592.797 km/h) in the vehicle. The Hydromax generates power by igniting a mixture of high-pressure hydrogen and air, emitting only water vapor as exhaust—producing zero carbon dioxide emissions. To secure official FIA certification, Green must complete two runs in opposite directions on Tuesday, August 13, with the average speed of both runs determining the final record. JCB has invested over $134 million in the development of hydrogen-powered engines.