JCB has pushed hydrogen combustion technology into record-breaking territory, with its hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax reaching an average speed of 406.320 mph (653.96 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
The twin-engine streamliner, driven by land-speed record holder Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, completed two FIA-required runs in opposite directions within an hour. It recorded 400.623 mph on its first run and an astonishing 412.135 mph on the second, producing an official average of 406.320 mph.
The achievement is subject to final ratification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), but it already represents a major milestone for hydrogen internal combustion engines.
JCB Hydromax Is the Fastest Hydrogen Combustion Vehicle
JCB Hydromax comfortably surpassed the previous FIA-recognized hydrogen internal combustion land-speed record of 185.5 mph, set by the BMW H2R in 2004.
More significantly, its 406.320 mph average also eclipses the 303 mph hydrogen fuel-cell land-speed record, making Hydromax the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle of any type according to JCB.
The record was achieved in the FIA Category A, Group XIV, Class 7 World Flying Start Land Speed Record category.
At the heart of the Hydromax are two production-based JCB hydrogen combustion engines. Built at JCB’s engine factory in Foston, Derbyshire, the engines produce a combined 1,600 horsepower.
These are not purpose-built racing engines. They are based on the hydrogen combustion engines JCB is developing for its production construction machinery, making the Bonneville achievement particularly significant for the company’s wider hydrogen strategy.
From JCB Dieselmax to Hydromax
The Hydromax record also marks a return to Bonneville for JCB exactly two decades after the company made headlines with its diesel-powered Dieselmax.
In August 2006, Andy Green drove the JCB Dieselmax to an average speed of 350.092 mph, establishing the FIA world diesel land speed record. That record remains unbeaten.
Hydromax has now gone considerably faster, while using hydrogen combustion instead of diesel.
The achievement highlights JCB’s long-running interest in alternative powertrains for heavy machinery, where battery-electric technology can face challenges related to operating time, vehicle weight and charging infrastructure.
JCB has invested heavily in hydrogen technology as part of a reported £100 million hydrogen program, developing combustion engines designed to provide a lower-carbon alternative for construction and agricultural equipment.
1,600 HP From Production-Based Hydrogen Engines
The Hydromax project was conceived by JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who proposed the hydrogen land-speed record attempt in early 2025.
The goal was about more than simply setting another Bonneville record. JCB wanted to demonstrate what its hydrogen combustion technology could achieve using engines derived from its production machinery.
“This record was set by production-based engines, the same engines powering JCB diggers right now,” Bamford said.
That distinction is central to JCB’s hydrogen strategy. Rather than relying exclusively on hydrogen fuel cells, the company has developed internal combustion engines capable of burning hydrogen while retaining much of the architecture and operating characteristics associated with conventional engines.
At the tailpipe, hydrogen combustion does not produce CO₂ from the fuel itself. However, real-world emissions can still depend on factors such as combustion conditions and the source of the hydrogen.
Andy Green Returns to Bonneville
The Hydromax achievement adds another chapter to Andy Green’s remarkable land-speed racing career.
Green remains the fastest person on Earth, having reached 763.035 mph in the ThrustSSC in 1997. He became the first and only person to break the sound barrier on land.
He also drove JCB Dieselmax to its 350.092 mph diesel record in 2006.
For Hydromax, Green completed the two high-speed runs required for FIA record certification, demonstrating the stability and performance of the hydrogen-powered streamliner at more than 400 mph.
“Bonneville is the spiritual home of the world land speed record,” Green said, describing Hydromax as stable, strong and fast.
Hydromax Already Broke 368 MPH Before the Record
The 406.320 mph FIA attempt followed another important milestone for JCB Hydromax.
Just one week earlier, the hydrogen streamliner reached 368.347 mph during Bonneville Speed Week, organized by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).
That run established a new SCTA record in the Blown Gas Streamliner class (AA/BGS, 500+ cubic inches) and provided an important development milestone ahead of the FIA record attempt.
The rapid progression from 368 mph to more than 406 mph demonstrates how quickly the Hydromax program advanced during its Bonneville testing.
What the Record Means for Hydrogen Engines
The Hydromax achievement does not mean hydrogen combustion engines will replace battery-electric vehicles in passenger cars. Instead, it provides an important demonstration of where hydrogen combustion could have an advantage, particularly in sectors where high energy requirements, long operating hours and rapid refueling are important.
JCB has focused much of its hydrogen development on construction equipment, where large machines can be difficult to electrify without adding significant battery weight or requiring lengthy charging periods.
The record also comes at an important moment for JCB in the United States. The company is preparing to open a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas, expected to employ around 1,500 people and manufacture machines for the U.S. market.
JCB Has a History of Unusual Speed Records
Hydromax is the latest in a long line of JCB machines and engineering projects designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the company’s technology.
The 2006 Dieselmax remains the world’s fastest diesel-powered vehicle, while the JCB Fastrac became the world’s fastest tractor in 2019 after reaching 135.191 mph.
In 2014, the JCB GT set a backhoe loader speed record of 72.58 mph.
The Hydromax project takes that tradition into a new era, using hydrogen instead of diesel while relying on production-based JCB engine technology.
With an average speed of more than 406 mph, JCB has now demonstrated that hydrogen combustion is capable of extraordinary performance. The bigger question is whether lessons learned from the Bonneville project can translate into practical, lower-carbon powertrains for the heavy equipment industry.
For JCB, the Hydromax record is intended to show that hydrogen combustion technology is not simply a future concept. The company believes it can be applied to working machines today.
