Andy Green’s New Speed Challenge: Hydrogen Power at Bonneville

Andy Green, the only person to have broken the sound barrier in a car, returns to Utah aiming for a new record. Green, a retired Royal Air Force pilot, seeks to surpass his previous land speed record of 350.092 mph set with a diesel car at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

This week, he will attempt the feat with a hydrogen-powered vehicle. He hopes to not only break his own record but also promote hydrogen as a clean-energy option. In July, he mentioned to The Associated Press that hydrogen represents the ‘fuel of the future.’

Green drives the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot car designed by British company JCB. The slim, pencil-like vehicle features two hydrogen engines providing 1,600 horsepower, derived from the company’s machinery engines. The engines mix pressurized hydrogen and air to generate power bursts.

In practice, Green reached 368.347 mph. To set an official hydrogen record, he must reach this speed under the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s observation. He aims to not only surpass diesel records but also to exceed land speed records for hydrogen engines and electric vehicles.

“What the peak speed is, I can’t say. We just don’t know,” Green stated. “Part of the adventure here is we’re going to find out.”

Despite previous speeds with jet power reaching 763.035 mph, Green’s current endeavor will not match this supersonic pace. His 1997 sound barrier-breaking run in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert created sonic booms audible in Gerlach.

Green, now 64, initially retired but was drawn back when approached by JCB with this project. JCB invested over $134 million in developing hydrogen engines that emit no carbon dioxide. Anthony Bamford, JCB Chair, emphasizes hydrogen’s capability for heavy industries and sees this project as proof of its potential.

Currently, most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels. JCB opted for green hydrogen from renewable energy, although it constitutes only a small part of global production. Hydrogen engines pose safety risks due to hydrogen’s flammability and pressure, which Green carefully manages. The car underwent extensive testing, preparing Green for precise control on the salt flats.

The Bonneville Salt Flats, known for their speed record attempts since 1914, lie about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City. This prehistoric lake bed requires extensive car cooling through its underlying aquifer. Spectators view the action from a distance, often using binoculars, due to the vast area and high speeds.

This iconic landscape has been featured in movies like “Independence Day” and the series finale of “Mad Men.” Green will make his attempt before sunrise, a reminder of last year when a failed attempt at Speed Week resulted in tragedy. Driver Chris Raschke lost control at 283 mph, reminding all of the risks involved.