©JCB
Aston Martin F1 sponsor JCB has built its reputation on heavy lifting. But this week, Lord Bamford’s company decided to prove it can do the opposite too – by going very, very fast.
On Tuesday, the heavy-equipment giant smashed the world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered car at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, with Wing Commander Andy Green piloting the spectacular 32-foot Hydromax to an official average of 406.320 mph (653 km/h).
Talk about taking JCB’s DNA in a different direction. Rather than digging, hauling or lifting, Hydromax went hunting for speed – powered by two production-based 4.8-litre hydrogen engines producing around 1,600 bhp combined.
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Green, already the fastest man on Earth since his astonishing 763.035 mph ThrustSSC run in 1997, completed the two FIA-mandated runs at 400.623 mph and 412.135 mph. And remarkably, he says the car had more to give.
“The car was magnificent, stable, strong and fast,” Green said. “To set a world record with hydrogen, 20 years after Dieselmax, is a privilege.
“In fact, the car was so good that I actually had to lift off the accelerator and slow down through the measured mile because we'd hit our limiting speed.”
The result more than doubled the previous hydrogen internal-combustion record of 185.5 mph and also eclipsed the 303 mph hydrogen fuel-cell mark, making Hydromax the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle ever.
As Lord Bamford put it: “It shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions.”
Heavy lifting, indeed. Just at rather more than 400 mph.
©JCB
