Britain’s Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car

Key Points:

• British driver Andy Green set a new world speed record of 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in a hydrogen-powered car at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, using two hydrogen internal combustion engines with 1,600 horsepower combined.
• The 64-year-old retired RAF pilot previously broke the sound barrier in 1997 with a jet-powered car, reaching 763.035 mph, and also holds the diesel-powered land-speed record set in 2006.
• The hydrogen-powered car, developed by British manufacturer JCB, demonstrated the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source for heavy industry, though hydrogen production remains largely fossil fuel-based.
• Experts note hydrogen’s promise for decarbonizing sectors but highlight challenges such as high production costs and the need for more sustainable extraction methods, including from natural deposits.
• The Bonneville Salt Flats provide an ideal low-friction surface for speed records, and Green’s achievement aims to promote hydrogen technology’s viability in high-performance applications.