JCB’s hydrogen-powered Hydromax streamliner has set a new Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching an average speed of 368.347 mph ahead of an upcoming attempt at an outright FIA world record.
Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the 32-foot-long, twin-engined streamliner broke the SCTA Blown Gas Streamliner (AA/BGS, 500+ cubic inches) class record during Bonneville Speed Week.
The achievement marks an important milestone for JCB’s hydrogen internal combustion engine technology, with the company now preparing to increase the Hydromax’s power output for an FIA-sanctioned world record attempt next week.
JCB Hydromax Breaks 16-Year-Old Bonneville Record
The JCB Hydromax completed its SCTA record runs over two consecutive days. The car recorded 367.141 mph on its first run before reaching a maximum speed of 369.554 mph on the second.
The two runs produced an official average of 368.347 mph, comfortably exceeding the previous SCTA class record of 348.342 mph, set by the Spectre Streamliner in 2010.
The result ends a 16-year wait for a new record in the class and gives JCB valuable high-speed data ahead of its more ambitious FIA world record attempt.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said the result demonstrates the potential of hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines at extreme performance levels while maintaining zero tailpipe carbon emissions.
Twin Hydrogen Engines Produce Up to 1,600 HP
Unlike a battery-electric vehicle, the JCB Hydromax uses two production-based hydrogen internal combustion engines developed by JCB.
The engines are now being prepared to operate at their full combined output of approximately 1,600 horsepower. The additional power will be used as the team attempts to push the streamliner beyond its current SCTA record.
JCB has completed 44 test runs as part of a structured development program designed to progressively increase speed while gathering data on the car, engines and other systems.
The program provides a real-world demonstration of how hydrogen combustion technology can be applied in an extreme motorsport environment.
Andy Green Returns to Bonneville
The Hydromax is being driven by Andy Green, who holds the outright land speed record after reaching 763.035 mph in the ThrustSSC in 1997. Green remains the only person to have officially broken the sound barrier on land.
Green said the SCTA record has increased confidence in both the Hydromax and the engineering team as preparations continue for the FIA attempt.
The Bonneville Salt Flats have played a central role in land speed racing for decades, providing an iconic venue where engineers and teams test the limits of propulsion technology and vehicle aerodynamics.
For JCB, the Hydromax program is also a high-profile demonstration of hydrogen combustion as an alternative to conventional fossil-fuel engines.
FIA World Record Attempt Comes Next
With the SCTA record now secured, JCB is remaining at Bonneville to pursue officially recognized world records under the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
The FIA attempt will represent a significantly larger target than the class record just achieved. The team plans to build on the data collected during Speed Week while increasing the Hydromax’s engine output.
The project is intended to demonstrate that hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines can deliver extreme performance without relying on gasoline or diesel fuel.
That distinction is particularly relevant for heavy-duty applications, where JCB has been developing hydrogen combustion technology as one potential route toward reducing carbon emissions without abandoning the basic architecture of an internal combustion engine.
JCB Has a History of Speed Records
The Hydromax is not JCB’s first attempt to establish a high-speed record.
In 2006, the company’s Dieselmax streamliner reached 350.092 mph at Bonneville, setting the world diesel land speed record using two JCB diesel engines.
JCB also set records in other categories with its performance-focused machines. The JCB Fastrac became the world’s fastest tractor in 2019 after reaching 135.191 mph, while the JCB GT set a world record for the fastest backhoe loader in 2014 at 72.58 mph.
The Hydromax represents the company’s latest effort to combine its engineering expertise with alternative powertrain technology.
Hydrogen Technology Takes Center Stage
The Bonneville record comes as JCB prepares to expand its presence in the United States with a new $500 million, one-million-square-foot factory in San Antonio, Texas.
The facility, located on a 400-acre site, is expected to employ around 1,500 people and manufacture machines for the U.S. market.
While the Hydromax is an extreme motorsport project, JCB’s broader hydrogen engine development is aimed at practical applications, particularly in sectors where replacing conventional diesel power with battery-electric systems can be challenging.
The 368.347 mph SCTA record therefore serves as more than a motorsport achievement. It gives JCB another opportunity to demonstrate the performance potential of hydrogen combustion technology under demanding conditions.
With the Hydromax now preparing for its FIA world record attempt, the next run at Bonneville could see JCB push hydrogen power well beyond the 368-mph mark.
