British driver Andy Green is set to attempt a new land speed record on Tuesday at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. Green, the first person to break the sound barrier in a car, aims to surpass his own record for a diesel-powered car, which he set 20 years ago.
The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot will drive the 32ft (9.75-meter) JCB Hydromax, a hydrogen-powered car developed by British construction equipment manufacturer JCB. The vehicle is powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines, adapted from those used in JCB’s construction machinery.
Green’s previous record for a diesel-powered car was 350.092 mph (563.4 km/h). In practice last week, he reached a top speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 km/h). To officially secure the hydrogen record, the attempt on Tuesday must be observed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.
JCB has invested over $134m into hydrogen-powered engines, which the company states emit no carbon dioxide from the tailpipes. JCB’s chair, Anthony Bamford, said the land speed project is a way to demonstrate the power of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative.