Andy Green’s Pursuit of Hydrogen-Powered Speed Record at Bonneville Salt Flats

Andy Green, the only individual to break the sound barrier in a car, is set to hit the track in Utah with aspirations of achieving another record. Twenty years ago, Green, a British driver, established a land speed record for diesel-powered cars, reaching 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

This week, Green targets surpassing his previous record, this time with a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The retired Royal Air Force pilot seeks to highlight hydrogen’s potential as a clean-energy alternative, tagging it as the ‘fuel of the future’ in a July interview with The Associated Press.

Green will steer the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot (9.75-meter) vehicle engineered by British construction equipment manufacturer JCB. The vehicle is distinctive with its bright yellow color and elongated, pencil-like shape. It runs on two hydrogen internal combustion engines, adapted from JCB’s construction machinery, providing a combined 1,600 horsepower. These engines mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air, igniting it to generate power bursts.

In pursuing the diesel record, Green also aims to exceed the existing world land speed records for hydrogen internal combustion engines at 185.5 mph (298.5 kph) and electric vehicles at 341.3 mph (549.2 kph).

Last week’s practice saw Green hit 368.347 mph (592.797 kph), yet he must replicate this feat in front of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the governing body of motor sports, to officially secure the hydrogen record.

Green expressed uncertainty about the peak speed saying, “What the peak speed is, I can’t say. We just don’t know.” The adventure lies in discovering this unknown.

Green’s attempt will not match the supersonic speeds he achieved three decades ago with jet-powered vehicles. The British driver previously made history by traveling faster than the speed of sound in 1997, setting the outright land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.98 kph) using twin jet engines. These runs in the Nevada Black Rock Desert resulted in sonic booms felt in nearby Gerlach.

Now aged 64, Green thought his racing days were over until JCB approached him about the new hydrogen-powered vehicle. The company invested over $134 million in hydrogen engine development, noting the absence of carbon dioxide emissions from the tailpipes.

According to JCB Chair Anthony Bamford, “If you’re serious about emissions, you have to be serious about hydrogen, and a land speed project is the perfect way to prove it.” Bamford suggests that hydrogen meets the heavy industry demands better than electric power.

However, hydrogen’s cleanliness depends on its production source, with most currently derived from fossil fuels. JCB has committed to purchasing green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, which constitutes a minor share of global production.

Hydrogen combustion engines pose significant safety challenges, given the gas’s high pressure and flammability. Green assures that risks are being managed meticulously. The car underwent extensive testing, with Green dedicating months to understanding its response to elements and mastering engine operation and parachute deployment for deceleration on the salt crust.

The Bonneville Salt Flats have attracted drivers aiming to set land speed records since the first race in 1914. Located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City, the salt flats sit atop an aquifer that cools the cars’ tires.

Spectators view from about 400 meters (a quarter mile) away through wide-angle binoculars as they watch vehicles on the 16-kilometer (10-mile) course.

This vast border area between Utah and Nevada features in films such as “Independence Day,” “The World’s Fastest Indian,” and the finale of the series “Mad Men.”

Green’s attempt will take place an hour before sunrise. His endeavor comes a year after a driver unsuccessfully attempting a land speed record at Bonneville’s annual Speed Week tragically died. Chris Raschke, who drove at 283 mph (455 kph), lost control of his vehicle, the Speed Demon, last August and succumbed to his injuries.

Reporting contributions from video journalist Serge Cartwright were included in this news piece, initially reported by Rico from Atlanta.