JCB has achieved another milestone in its ambition with hydrogen power after its Hydromax streamliner clinched a Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the car set a new record in the SCTA Blown Gas Streamliner (AA/BGS, 500+ cubic inches) class at 368.347mph. The result surpasses the previous SCTA record of 348.342 mph set by the Spectre Streamliner in 2010, marking the first time in 16 years the class record has been broken.
JCB Hydromax is powered by two of JCB’s own production-based hydrogen internal combustion engines. With the engines now being turned up towards their full combined output of 1,600hp, JCB is now gearing up for an official FIA world record attempt next week.
“To reach 368.347mph is a fantastic achievement for the whole JCB Hydromax team. It shows just what JCB’s hydrogen engines are capable of ahead of our outright FIA world record attempt. This project is about proving that hydrogen power can perform at the very highest level with zero emissions, and today’s result is powerful evidence of that,” said JCB chairman Lord Bamford.
JCB has a history of pushing the limits of speed. In 2006, JCB’s Dieselmax streamliner clinched the world diesel land speed record, reaching 350.092 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats powered by two JCB diesel engines. In 2019, the JCB Fastrac tractor was crowned the world’s fastest tractor at 135.191 mph, while in 2014 the JCB GT set the world record for the fastest backhoe loader at 72.58 mph.
