JCB targets new land speed record with hydrogen-powered Hydromax

By Staff reporter
Published 13th May 2026, 14:05 GMT
Updated 13th May 2026, 14:25 GMT
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JCB is attempting to break the land speed record once again, 20 years after it set the title in its famous Dieselmax.

Back in 2006, the JCB Dieselmax set a world diesel land speed record of 250.092mph at the Boneville Salt Flats in Utah with Andy Green OBE at the wheel.

Now, JCB is looking to break the record once again with a hydrogen-powered version of the Dieselmax. Called the Hydromax, it’s aiming to break the hydrogen-powered vehicle world record, thanks to two hydrogen engines which bring a combined 1,600bhp.placeholder image
Now, JCB is looking to break the record once again with a hydrogen-powered version of the Dieselmax. Called the Hydromax, it’s aiming to break the hydrogen-powered vehicle world record, thanks to two hydrogen engines which bring a combined 1,600bhp.

Testing is set to commence in the UK before the JCB team – headed up by JCB chairman Anthony Bamford – arrives at Bonneville SpeedWeek.

Bamford said: “Britain has a proud heritage of setting speed records and, as a British company, I’m excited to challenge for a new one using hydrogen. This is not just about speed – it’s about showcasing the world-class engineering talent we have here in the UK and the robustness of our new hydrogen engines.placeholder image
Bamford said: “Britain has a proud heritage of setting speed records and, as a British company, I’m excited to challenge for a new one using hydrogen. This is not just about speed – it’s about showcasing the world-class engineering talent we have here in the UK and the robustness of our new hydrogen engines.

“JCB Dieselmax was always a bit of an unusual idea – but it proved a point. Putting an advanced engine into a land-speed car showed the world what it could do in a way a digger never could. It’s the same thinking with hydrogen today. If you’re serious about emissions, you have to be serious about hydrogen – and a land-speed project is the perfect way to prove it.

“As for the speed, we’re aiming for with JCB Hydromax – we intend to beat 350 mph.”

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