British engineering company JCB has completed UK testing of its hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax car.
The vehicle reached 208mph, ahead of its world land speed record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA next month.
The shakedown runs at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, England saw the 32-foot car driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE reach 208mph under its own hydrogen power – up from the 177mph recorded earlier in the programme.
Alongside gaining data from the tests, it also provided engineering insight and enabled the crew to refined the vehicle’s hydrogen refuelling process – a key element in ensuring fast, efficient operation on the Bonneville Salt Flats, where turnaround times can decide whether a record run goes ahead, it said.
The car is powered by two of JCB’s own production-based hydrogen digger engines producing a combined 1,600 bhp.
The record bid comes ahead of the opening of JCB’s new $500 million (£380m) factory in San Antonio, Texas.
Chairman of the company, Lord Bamford has spearheaded the firm’s £100 million investment in hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, which now also power diggers.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford said:
“The UK testing programme has given us everything we had hoped for and more. We have a car that runs, a crew that knows it inside out and a wealth of real-world data that no amount of theory could ever provide. The team has done a magnificent job and our focus now turns entirely to the Salt Flats and a new world hydrogen land speed record.”
JCB Engineering Director Ryan Ballard, who is leading the project, said:
“Reaching 208mph is a tremendous result, but the real value of these tests is what we have learned. We now understand how the car behaves under load, we have refined our hydrogen refuelling, and we have built the teamwork and communication that will be decisive at Bonneville.
“Every refuel, run and tyre change we have rehearsed here is one we won’t be doing for the first time on the salt. We will arrive fully prepared, with a car and a crew that know exactly what they are doing.”
Andy Green said:
“To run JCB Hydromax up to 208mph here in the UK is hugely encouraging. The car feels strong and the team has gelled brilliantly. Now comes the real challenge – Bonneville, the spiritual home of the World Land Speed Record. I can’t wait to get out on the salt.”
Image of Hydromax courtesy of JCB
