JCB to target new land speed record on Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah
British manufacturer will use 32-foot car powered by its own hydrogen engines
Staffordshire-based engineering giants JCB will try to rewrite the history books once again with a new land speed record attempt on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
In August 2006, the JCB Dieselmax car was driven by Wing Commander Andy Green to a speed of 350.092 mph in Utah to achieve the world diesel-powered land speed record - a record that still stands to this day.
The speed achieved that day is positively small fry, however, compared to the 763.035mph he achieved in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, USA in 1997 behind the wheel of the ThrustSSC. As well as being the fastest man on earth, Green also has the honour of being the only person to break the sound barrier on land.
Now, the company will put a 32-foot powered car called Hydromax to the test, this time using hydrogen power from engines created in-house. JCB has spent five years developing hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICE) as part of a £100 million investment, with hydrogen powered JCB diggers recently rolling off production lines. The JCB Hydromax will run with two production-based hydrogen engines, producing a combined 1,600bhp.
“We intend to beat 350mph”
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has spearheaded the company’s hydrogen programme, said: “Britain has a proud heritage of setting speed records and, as a British company, I’m excited to challenge for a new one using hydrogen. This is not just about speed – it’s about showcasing the world-class engineering talent we have here in the UK and the robustness of our new hydrogen engines.
“JCB Dieselmax was always a bit of an unusual idea – but it proved a point. Putting an advanced engine into a land speed car showed the world what it could do in a way a digger never could. It’s the same thinking with hydrogen today. 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.”
He added: “As for the speed, we’re aiming for with JCB Hydromax – we intend to beat 350 mph.”
Green returns for hydrogen record attempt
Green will once again be behind the wheel for the record attempt and will begin testing in the UK before heading across the pond for Bonneville SpeedWeek, the world’s leading land speed racing event.
Green said: “The JCB Hydromax car is lighter, more powerful and faster than its predecessor of 20 years ago. Once again, we're going to show the world just how good British engineering and technology really is. This August we're going to smash the hydrogen-powered vehicle record in the world's fastest (and most exciting!) zero-emissions vehicle. I can't wait.”
Another speed record attempt for JCB
While JCB’s hydrogen speed record attempt and the diesel achievement 20 years before it may make all the headlines, the company also has the honour of having the world’s fastest tractor — the JCB Fastrac — at 135.191mph and fastest Backhoe Loader — the JCB GT — at 72.58 mph.
words: Mike Booth
pictures & video: JCB