British driver Andy Green has set a new world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered car, reaching 406mph (654km/h) at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats.
The 64-year-old retired Royal Air Force pilot became the fastest person ever to drive a hydrogen-powered vehicle after setting the record in JCB’s Hydromax car.
The hydrogen land speed record was calculated from the average of two runs. Hydromax is powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines producing a combined 1,600 brake horsepower (bhp).
Green made history in 1997 when he drove the jet-powered ThrustSSC across Nevada’s Black Rock Desert at 763mph (1,228km/h). He remains the first and only person to break the sound barrier in a land vehicle.
Twenty years ago, Green also set the world land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle. Driving JCB Dieselmax, he reached more than 350mph (563km/h).
The new Hydromax record more than doubles the previous official hydrogen combustion record of 185.5mph, set in 2004.
“Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, 20 years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege. This record is a huge achievement by a world-class team and superb technology,” Green said.
Last month, Green revealed that his wife’s encouragement helped persuade him to take on the hydrogen speed-record challenge after he received a call from JCB chairman Lord Anthony Bamford.
Lord Anthony Bamford said: “Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power. Today we have done it again – this time with engines powered by hydrogen.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk