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Driver Andy Green attempts land speed record in hydrogen-powered car
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- British driver Andy Green, the only person to break the sound barrier in a car, returns to Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to attempt a new land speed record with a hydrogen-powered vehicle called the JCB Hydromax.
- The JCB Hydromax is powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines producing a combined 1,600 horsepower, aiming to surpass the diesel-powered record of 350.092 mph set by Green 20 years ago, as well as current hydrogen and electric vehicle speed records.
- Green reached a practice top speed of 368.347 mph but must achieve this officially under Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile supervision to claim the hydrogen record.
- The project highlights hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative, though most hydrogen today is produced from fossil fuels; JCB has committed to using green hydrogen produced from renewable energy.
- Green, 64, came out of retirement for this attempt, emphasizing safety measures after a recent fatal accident at the Salt Flats, and aims to demonstrate hydrogen's potential for heavy industry emissions reduction.
