After breaking the sound barrier, now a hydrogen-powered record holder, the Briton has reached 400 miles per hour.

A British driver has set a new world record for the fastest vehicle powered by hydrogen, reaching a speed of 654 kilometers per hour during tests at the renowned Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. The achievement was accomplished by Andy Green, a former Royal Air Force pilot who previously broke the sound barrier with a jet-powered car in 1997. The record-setting run took place on August 12, 2026, at the iconic salt flats known for their flat terrain and ideal conditions for land-speed records. Green drove a specially modified vehicle called JCB HydrOMax, which uses two internal combustion engines fueled by hydrogen to generate approximately 1,600 horsepower. The average speed of the two runs recorded during the attempt was calculated to establish the official record. This new record surpasses the previous official record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle, which stood at 298 kilometers per hour since 2004. The performance marks a significant leap forward in alternative fuel technology, demonstrating the potential of hydrogen as a viable power source for high-performance vehicles. Andy Green, aged 64, has a long history of setting speed records. In 1997, he achieved a remarkable feat by driving the ThrustSSC, a jet-powered car, to over 1,228 kilometers per hour at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, making him the first person to break the sound barrier with a land vehicle. He remains the sole individual to have accomplished this milestone. The JCB HydrOMax was unveiled in May and underwent extensive testing at the RAF Wittering airbase in Cambridgeshire before its record attempt. During these trials, the vehicle reached speeds of up to 335 kilometers per hour, indicating its capability to achieve even greater velocities under optimal conditions. Green attributed his decision to participate in the project to encouragement from his wife after a phone call with Lord Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB. Bamford emphasized that the company aimed to showcase the capabilities of British engineering using hydrogen power, similar to how they demonstrated diesel engine prowess with the DieselMax in 2004. The DieselMax had previously set a record of more than 563 kilometers per hour at the same location, highlighting the legacy of innovation associated with the Bonneville Salt Flats. This latest endeavor underscores the ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable transportation technologies through cutting-edge engineering solutions.