JCB’s latest land‑speed effort, the Hydromax, has logged 208 mph in British testing, topping the unofficial record for a hydrogen‑combustion vehicle.
Testing at RAF Wittering
For ten days the team worked from a temporary tent beside the 1.7‑mile runway at RAF Wittering, near Stamford. Weather was uncooperative, ranging from rain to gusty crosswinds, conditions that normally hamper a narrow, high‑speed car. Still, the prototype managed to breach the 200 mph threshold, a milestone that the engineers say validates their design before the machine is shipped to Utah for the official runs.
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According to the project brief, the car will first join the Bonneville Speed Week organized by the Southern California Timing Association.
Design lineage and engineering
The Hydromax mirrors JCB’s 2006 Dieselmax in overall shape: a long, needle‑nose, single‑seat layout built to house the 4.8‑litre four‑stroke digger engine, now converted to run on hydrogen. Both cars share a wheelbase and four‑wheel‑drive system, with each axle powered by a modified engine linked electronically to keep revs matched. The power is transmitted through XTrac six‑speed transaxles originally designed for racing.
Weight is listed at about 2.8 tonnes, a few percent lighter than the diesel predecessor. The length grew by 560 mm to accommodate twin 700‑bar hydrogen tanks, and the cabin was shifted forward by 450 mm for balance.
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Hydrogen versus fuel‑cell technology
On‑track performance
During a public demonstration on the runway, the car accelerated smoothly, reaching 177 mph in third gear—a figure close to the practical limit of the track, the observers reported. The vehicle’s mass meant that even at that speed, momentum was significant, and two parachutes were deployed to slow it down.
External view
Motorsport analyst Emma Hawkins cautioned that “record attempts always hinge on surface conditions and weather as much as on engineering.” She added that the Bonneville Salt Flats have a reputation for variable consistency, and past speed weeks have been cancelled due to flooding.
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JCB plans to transport the Hydromax to Wendover, Utah, the nearest town to the salt flats, where the final record attempts will take place in August.
Success would set a new benchmark for hydrogen‑combustion land speed.