Ricardo backs JCB Hydromax 800hp hydrogen engine land speed record attempt
Ricardo is helping JCB uprate its production hydrogen engine to 800hp for the Hydromax car's August land speed record attempt, aiming to beat the 2006 diesel record.
- 800 hp
- 350.092 mph
- 20
What Happened
Ricardo is supporting JCB's hydrogen land speed record attempt with the new JCB Hydromax car. The engine is based on JCB's production hydrogen engines used in its industrial equipment, and Ricardo is working closely with JCB to significantly uprate it to 800hp for the Hydromax. The record attempt is scheduled for August.
800 hp
for the JCB Hydromax hydrogen land-speed car.
Ricardo supported JCB to set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car, with JCB Dieselmax reaching 350.092 mph.
Ricardo and JCB set the world's fastest tractor record together.
JCB Hydromax will attempt to become the fastest hydrogen car on record and to exceed the 2006 diesel speed record, with Andy Green driving.
“For over 100 years, Ricardo has been at the forefront of ICE development, and it's amazing to be working with JCB on another land speed record 20 years on from JCB Dieselmax. The team has worked incredibly hard to achieve the ambitious power target and we're excited to see the results of the JCB-led project, delivered with support from Ricardo, at Bonneville.”
The world's fastest man, Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, who was in the driver's seat when JCB Dieselmax set the 2006 record, will return to drive the JCB Hydromax. The car will attempt not only to become the fastest hydrogen car on record, but also to exceed the 2006 diesel speed record.
Why this matters
This attempt pairs a non-diesel propulsion technology with a landmark speed record: JCB's hydrogen engine, already used in industrial equipment, is being pushed to 800hp. A success would make the JCB Hydromax the fastest hydrogen car on record and top the 350.092 mph diesel record set 20 years ago. It also brings back driver Andy Green and underscores Ricardo's long history in engine development.
Terms in This Story
- hydrogen engine
- An internal combustion engine that burns hydrogen instead of petrol or diesel.
- land speed record
- The highest speed ever achieved by a vehicle on land, typically measured over a timed run.
- ICE
- Internal combustion engine; an engine that generates power by burning fuel inside cylinders.
- Bonneville
- A salt flat in Utah, US, known as a site for land speed record attempts.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.