On August 12, 2026, the JCB Hydromax set a new land speed record for hydrogen-powered vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. This achievement comes as the previous record, held by Thrust SSC at an average speed of 763.6 mph (1,229 km/h) since 1997, remains unbroken. JCB, a UK-based manufacturer known for heavy industrial and agricultural equipment, has been exploring alternatives to diesel engines due to carbon emissions targets. Initially focusing on hydrogen fuel cells, JCB shifted to developing its own hydrogen combustion engine in 2020 after finding fuel cells to be too costly and fragile for practical applications. The concept of hydrogen combustion has been attempted previously, with mixed results, including BMW's efforts in 2006 and Toyota's recent experimental hydrogen-burning vehicles.
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JCB Hydromax Sets New Land Speed Record for Hydrogen-Powered Cars
The JCB Hydromax has set a new land speed record for hydrogen-powered cars at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on August 12, 2026. This record comes as JCB, a UK-based manufacturer, has developed its own hydrogen combustion engine after finding fuel cells unsuitable for practical use.
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JCB
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Akio Toyoda
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Original Headline
Two hydrogen-burning engines powered this car to a new land speed record
Neutral Headline
JCB Hydromax Sets New Land Speed Record for Hydrogen-Powered Cars