British engineering group JCB has set a new world land speed record with a hydrogen-powered vehicle: the JCB Hydromax recorded an average of 406.320 mph (653.9 km/h) across two runs on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered machine in history.

At the wheel was Wing Commander Andy Green — the same British driver who became the first person to break the sound barrier on land in the Thrust SSC in 1997. The record attempt was run under FIA supervision, and it more than doubled the previous hydrogen record of around 185.5 mph.

The Hydromax is no show car. JCB, best known for diggers and construction equipment, has spent years developing hydrogen combustion engines, arguing that green hydrogen can be a practical complement to battery power — especially for heavy machinery where long charging times are a dealbreaker. The record run demonstrates what a near-production hydrogen combustion engine can achieve.

For JCB chairman Lord Bamford, the record is a message to industry and policymakers alike: hydrogen is not a pipe dream but an available technology. The company argues that what is needed now is infrastructure at scale — production, transport and refueling.

Critics counter that hydrogen combustion is less efficient than fuel cells or batteries, and that 'green' hydrogen remains scarce and expensive. Supporters respond that the record proves the technology can hit the performance thresholds that matter for heavy transport and industry. Either way, the Hydromax has written itself into the speed record books — and reignited the debate over the future of propulsion.

Sources