JCB’s hydrogen-powered Hydromax car reaches 208mph in testing

JCB has built the car using two 800hp (597kW) hydrogen combustion engines that have been adapted from its own production hydrogen digger engines.

Having started building Hydromax only weeks ago, the car will now be flown out to the Bonneville Salt Flats where Wing Commander Andy Green aims to surpass the 350.092mph (563.4kmh) he set in JCB’s Dieselmax car in 2006, setting an FIA diesel world land speed record.

Andy Green also holds the overall land speed record of 763.035mph (1,227.986kmh), which he set in ThrustSSC in 1997.

JCB said that in addition to gathering data during testing of Hydromax, it also refined its hydrogen refuelling process to allow for efficient operation on the Bonneville Salt Flats, where turnaround times can decide whether a record run goes ahead.

Chairman Anthony Bamford said, “The UK testing programme has given us everything we had hoped for and more. We have a car that runs, a crew that knows it inside out and a wealth of real-world data that no amount of theory could ever provide. The team has done a magnificent job and our focus now turns entirely to the Salt Flats and a new world hydrogen land speed record.”

Wing Commander Andy Green will pilot the Hydromax car during its speed record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats in August 2026 (Image: JCB)

JCB engineering director Ryan Ballard, who is leading the project, said, “Reaching 208mph is a tremendous result, but the real value of these tests is what we have learned. We now understand how the car behaves under load, we have refined our hydrogen refuelling, and we have built the teamwork and communication that will be decisive at Bonneville. Every refuel, run and tyre change we have rehearsed here is one we won’t be doing for the first time on the salt. We will arrive fully prepared, with a car and a crew that know exactly what they are doing.”

Andy Green said: “To run JCB Hydromax up to 208mph here in the UK is hugely encouraging. The car feels strong and the team has gelled brilliantly. Now comes the real challenge – Bonneville, the spiritual home of the World Land Speed Record. I can’t wait to get out on the salt.”

JCB has invested £100 million (US$131.8 million) investment in hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines and has so far produced 200 engines. It is now manufacturing hydrogen-powered machines for commercial sale, including a hydrogen-powered 3CX backhoe loader and hydrogen generator, the G60RS H.