In a remarkable display of hydrogen power, Andy Green, famously known for breaking the sound barrier in a car, achieved a new milestone. On Tuesday, at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, he set a world record by reaching 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) with a vehicle powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines. These engines, boasting a combined 1,600 horsepower, propelled him to set the record in this category, verified by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.
The 64-year-old ex-Royal Air Force pilot, driving a 32-foot (9.75-meter) car designed by JCB, a British construction equipment company, utilized engines adapted from their heavy machinery. These engines create power by mixing hydrogen gas with air. After his run, Green remarked, “It’s magic to showcase this technology and demonstrate the engineering excellence at the Bonneville Salt Flats.”
Andy Green, speaking after securing the record, emphasized the significance of this achievement.
Although this achievement did not rival Green’s 1997 record, where he hit 763.035 mph (1,227.985 kph) with jet engines to break the sound barrier, it marked an important step for hydrogen power. His previous remarkable feats include a 2006 record for diesel-powered cars at 350.092 mph (563.4 kph), also set at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
In his latest attempt, Green easily exceeded the past hydrogen combustion record of 185.5 mph (298.5 kph), making use of a 10-mile (16-kilometer) straightaway to reach optimal speeds. A group of JCB staff and reporters, armed with cameras and binoculars, observed the historic run from a safe distance.
Green endured inside temperatures often surpassing 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) during his runs. He had prepared for these conditions with months of dedicated training, including regular hot baths to acclimate to the heat.
The Bonneville Salt Flats, a remnant of an ancient lake bed located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City, offer an ideal racing surface. The low friction and dry desert conditions have attracted drivers since 1914. Green commented on the terrain, stating, “It looks like snow and behaves similarly, being surprisingly slippery.”
Although not achieving supersonic speeds this time, Green and the JCB engineering team hope this accomplishment will influence the clean-energy sector. JCB’s leadership argues that hydrogen could fulfill the needs of heavy industries more effectively than electric alternatives. Despite hydrogen’s dependency on fossil fuels for production, JCB has committed to sourcing green hydrogen created using renewable energy.
Greg Keoleian, a University of Michigan professor and co-director of the MI Hydrogen initiative, highlighted the resurgence in hydrogen technology development. Many major automakers are exploring hydrogen engines, but costs remain a key hurdle. Extracting hydrogen from natural sources instead of water may be a potential solution to lower production costs.
Hydrogen continues to be an essential energy carrier for reducing emissions across various sectors, but its broader adoption hinges on managing these production costs.