Two hydrogen-burning engines powered this car to a new land speed record
JCB has invested heavily in hydrogen to power its diggers and other machinery.
Yesterday, on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, JCB Hydromax set a new record for hydrogen-powered cars. JCB, a UK-based manufacturer of heavy industrial and agricultural equipment, needed alternatives to diesel engines due to carbon emissions targets. Initially, JCB considered fuel cells but found them too expensive and fragile for real-world use.
In 2020, the company began developing its own hydrogen combustion engine. While previous attempts at hydrogen combustion engines, such as BMW's V12 engine and Toyota's Corolla, faced challenges with reduced power and increased fuel consumption, JCB's hydrogen engine was successful. The new record stands at 763.6 mph (1,229 km/h), surpassing the previous record of 763.6 mph (1,229 km/h) set by Thrust SSC in 1997 using a wheeled vehicle.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
