JCB’s bid to set a world hydrogen land speed record is on track – with the car now built and testing underway.
Powered by two modified JCB hydrogen digger engines, producing a combined 1,600 bhp, the JCB Hydromax car reached a speed of 177mph on Tuesday, 16th July at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE.
Following UK testing, the team will travel to Bonneville for SpeedWeek, the world’s leading land speed racing event, run by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). The team will then remain at the Salt Flats to pursue officially recognised world records. JCB aims to beat the 350 mph JCB Dieselmax record with the JCB Hydromax – a car which is lighter, more powerful and faster than its 2006 predecessor.
JCB Engineering Director Ryan Ballard, who is leading the project, said: “More than 150,000 hours of work has got us to this point; the next phase is where we find out what the car actually does, not what we think it will do. Every run, every refuel and every tyre change we complete in the UK is one our team won’t be doing for the first time on the Salt Flats. Our goal is simple: to arrive at Bonneville fully prepared, with a car and a crew that know exactly what they are doing.”
JCB has invested £100 million to develop hydrogen powered internal combustion engines. The first diggers powered by the technology are now rolling off production lines, with hydrogen powered telehandlers expected to follow. Lord Bamford was at the test and said: “Twelve months ago, this car was a set of drawings being discussed by a room full of engineers. Today, it is a reality and on wheels, running, and being tested in the UK. The team has done a wonderful job to get us to this point. Our focus now turns to the real challenge: setting a world hydrogen land speed record in Bonneville.”
