Andy Green, known for breaking the sound barrier in a car, returns to Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats with new ambitions. Twenty years ago, Green set a record for a diesel-powered vehicle, reaching 350.092 mph (563.4 kph). This week, he attempts to surpass that record using a hydrogen-powered car. The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot advocates for hydrogen as a clean-energy solution.
Green will steer the JCB Hydromax, a vehicle powered by hydrogen internal combustion engines delivering 1,600 horsepower, designed by British manufacturer JCB. The vehicle is 32 feet (9.75 meters) long and aims to exceed records for diesel, hydrogen internal combustion, and electric vehicles.
In a practice run, Green achieved a speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 kph). To secure an official record, he must replicate this in front of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.
“What the peak speed is, I can’t say. We just don’t know. Part of the adventure here is we’re going to find out.”
Green’s past achievements include setting a land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.98 kph) with a jet-powered car in 1997. He brings his racing expertise to this new challenge, encouraged by JCB’s investment in hydrogen technology.
JCB Chair Anthony Bamford believes hydrogen is essential for reducing emissions and can meet the needs of heavy industries. However, hydrogen’s environmental benefits depend on its production method. JCB has committed to using green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energy.
The hydrogen project also faces safety challenges due to high pressure and flammability. Green emphasizes careful risk management and extensive testing of the car’s systems.
The Bonneville Salt Flats, marked by a salt-crusted landscape, is a historic site for land speed records. Drivers have pursued such records since 1914, drawn by the unique conditions. Spectators can watch from a distance as vehicles race along the 10-mile (16 kilometers) straightaway.
Green’s attempt follows a tragic event last year when a driver lost his life attempting a speed record. Despite these risks, Green continues to push the boundaries of speed and technology.