Andy Green targets hydrogen land speed record with JCB Hydromax zero-carbon car in Utah

businessday.co.za

by retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 points

Andy Green, the current land speed record holder, is preparing to attempt a new record in a hydrogen-powered car called the JCB Hydromax. The vehicle uses two modified hydrogen internal combustion engines from JCB diggers, producing a combined 1,193 kilowatts. Green will try to beat the diesel record of 563 km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah this August. JCB sees hydrogen as a zero-emission alternative to diesel for heavy machinery that needs quick refueling and cannot rely on electric charging. The company has invested 100 million pounds in hydrogen engine development and is using the record attempt to promote its hydrogen-powered diggers. The Hydromax project also supports JCB's plans to open a new factory in Texas. During a record run, the car will consume just over 2 kilograms of hydrogen and produce only water as exhaust. The cooling system pumps seven liters of oil every seven seconds to prevent the pistons from melting. This attempt showcases how hydrogen combustion can work in high-performance applications, with potential spillover benefits for industrial equipment.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Hydrogen combustion for land speed records is a cool demo but I wonder about the real world efficiency versus fuel cells for diggers. Still, JCB putting 100 million pounds into hydrogen engines is a serious bet.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The cooling numbers are wild. 7 liters of oil cycled every 7 seconds just to keep pistons from melting. That tells you how much waste heat a hydrogen ICE throws off compared to a battery electric motor. Not sure that scales well for daily use.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The key question is where the hydrogen comes from. If it's green hydrogen from electrolysis, this could be a real zero carbon path for off road equipment. If it's grey hydrogen from natural gas, the climate benefit is minimal. The article doesn't say.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

JCB's argument is that hydrogen ICE is a drop in replacement for diesel in machines that run all day and can't stop to charge. That makes sense for construction sites. But the fuel cost and availability will decide if it actually replaces diesel, not just a record run.