--- title: "Andy Green breaks hydrogen-powered land speed record at 406 mph in Utah" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/tech/andy-green-breaks-hydrogen-powered-land-speed-record-at-406-mph-in-utah" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/andy-green-breaks-hydrogen-powered-land-speed-record-at-406-mph-in-utah" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/tech/andy-green-breaks-hydrogen-powered-land-speed-record-at-406-mph-in-utah.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/andy-green-breaks-hydrogen-powered-land-speed-record-at-406-mph-in-utah" category: "Science & Tech" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-12T01:05:49.941Z" source_reported: "2026-08-11T23:48:30.000Z" updated: "2026-08-12T01:05:49.941Z" trust_score: 92 critic_score: 78 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-12T00:57:45.967293+00:00" --- # Andy Green breaks hydrogen-powered land speed record at 406 mph in Utah *British driver sets new FIA-certified mark in JCB Hydromax, powered by two hydrogen combustion engines* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 92 of 100, higher is better. Multiple independent outlets corroborate. - Craft 78 of 100, higher is better. Clear explanations of the record attempt. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Measured language used across outlets. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Andy Green set a new FIA-certified land speed record of 406.320 mph in a hydrogen-powered car at the Bonneville Salt Flats on 11 August 2026. - The JCB Hydromax, powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines, surpassed the previous hydrogen record of 185.5 mph by more than 200 mph. - The record was overseen by FIA officials and required two runs in opposite directions within an hour, averaging speeds over a measured mile. - JCB framed the achievement as a demonstration of hydrogen’s potential for heavy industry, though most hydrogen is currently produced from fossil fuels. Andy Green, a retired Royal Air Force pilot, set a new land speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle on 11 August 2026 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) certified the record after Green averaged 406.320 mph across two runs in the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines. The engines, adapted from JCB’s construction machinery, produce a combined 1,600 horsepower. The previous record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle was 185.5 mph, set in 2004. Green’s attempt required two runs in opposite directions within an hour, with the average speed taken from a measured mile in each direction. The Hydromax reached 400.623 mph on its first run and 412.135 mph on the return, as reported by Autocar UK. The record was overseen by FIA officials alongside the United States’ National Sporting Authority. Green, who also holds the overall land speed record of 763.035 mph set in 1997, described the Bonneville Salt Flats as the "best racing surface in the world." The JCB Hydromax’s engines mix pressurised hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to generate power. JCB’s chairman, Lord Bamford, stated the achievement proved hydrogen combustion could deliver zero emissions at low cost, though the company’s hydrogen is currently sourced from renewable energy, which makes up a small fraction of global production. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mentioned the previous hydrogen land speed record of 185.5 mph, which was reported by the Durango Herald and Autocar UK. The environmental context of hydrogen production, that most is derived from fossil fuels, was omitted from all centre-rated digests and the right-rated reports. The specific speeds of the two runs required for the record were not included in any digest outside Autocar UK’s full report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (2) - Centre: 74% (12) - Right: 13% (2) 4 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-12T00:57:45.967293+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-12T01:15:22.054Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The two left-rated reports led on the record as a milestone for hydrogen power. The Durango Herald, in its full report, quoted Green calling hydrogen the "fuel of the future" and included his remarks on the engineering and the conditions at Bonneville. It also noted the environmental context, reporting that most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels but that JCB had signed a deal to buy green hydrogen. - Novinky.cz’s digest framed the record as a challenge to the official FIA land speed record, suggesting the Hydromax would attempt to surpass it soon. Neither left-rated report mentioned JCB’s criticism of British business conditions, which appeared in the right-rated coverage. ### Centre - The 12 centre-rated digests and reports led on the speed achieved and the technical details of the Hydromax. Autocar UK’s full report detailed the two-run requirement for the record and the specific speeds reached on each run. It also quoted Lord Bamford describing the achievement as a demonstration of hydrogen’s viability for internal combustion engines at low cost. - Reuters and Forbes led with the record itself, while Coolhunting and Tech Spot emphasised the car’s construction, noting the engines were adapted from JCB’s excavators. The Record’s digest highlighted that the new record did not approach Green’s 1997 supersonic mark. None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the environmental or political context carried in the left and right reports. ### Right - The two right-rated digests led on the record as a business story. The New York Post’s digest quoted Green calling hydrogen the "fuel of the future" but did not expand on the environmental implications. GB News’s digest focused on JCB chairman Lord Bamford’s criticism of British business conditions, quoting him saying the UK was in a "real mess" and that doing business there "could be a hell of a lot better." - Neither right-rated digest mentioned the previous hydrogen record or the technical details of the Hydromax’s engines, which were carried in the centre and left reports. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 9 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Durango Herald](https://durangoherald.com/articles/associated-press/britains-andy-green-sets-another-speed-record-this-time-for-fastest-run-in-a-hydrogen-powered-car) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [Herald Bulletin](https://heraldbulletin.com/sports/national_sports/britains-andy-green-sets-another-speed-record-this-time-in-a-hydrogen-powered-car/article_87030f07-e6d5-5201-af03-03654c36c8f6.html) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [KULR-TV](https://kulr8.com/news/national/britains-andy-green-sets-another-speed-record-this-time-in-a-hydrogen-powered-car/article_324becf6-e515-575c-9bfa-64ed431b046f.html) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [Yankton Press & Dakotan](https://yankton.net/national_sports/article_289e14cd-5743-5bef-998a-c6714dcc09ce.html) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/08/11/speed-record-salt-flats) — Britain’s Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/sports/national-sports/2026/08/11/britains-andy-green-sets-another-speed-record-this-time-in-a-hydrogen-powered-car) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/britains-andy-green-sets-another-speed-record-this-time-in-a-hydrogen-powered-car/article_a44bcd89-a50b-5377-a817-ddce79bd73e1.html) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [pmg-ky3.com](https://pmg-ky3.com/ap/ap_news/britains-andy-green-sets-another-speed-record-this-time-in-a-hydrogen-powered-car/article_f985df7d-0d37-5153-9b6c-ee6a2299af86.html) — Britain's Andy Green sets another speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered car - [Carscoops](https://carscoops.com/2026/08/jcb-land-speed-record) — JCB Hydromax Sets New Land Speed Record Of 406 MPH - [FIA](https://fia.com/news/fia-confirms-new-406320-mph-world-land-speed-record-hydrogen-powered-vehicle) — FIA confirms new 406.320 mph World Land Speed Record for a - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/11/business/new-world-speed-record-of-406-mph-set-with-hydrogen-powered-jcb-supercar-in-utah) — New world speed record of 406 mph set with hydrogen-powered JCB supercar in Utah - [GB News](https://gbnews.com/news/jcb-boss-declares-british-business-real-mess-attempt-land-speed-world-record-utah) — JCB boss declares British business is in a 'real mess' as he attempts land speed world record in Utah - [coolhunting.com](https://coolhunting.com/tech/two-digger-engines-nine-miles-of-salt-and-a-hydrogen-land-speed-record) — Two Digger Engines, Nine Miles of Salt and a Hydrogen Land Speed Record - COOL HUNTING® - [Autocar UK](https://autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport/jcb-hydromax-smashes-hydrogen-land-speed-record) — JCB Hydromax smashes hydrogen land speed record - [Forbes](https://forbes.com/sites/matthewmacconnell/2026/08/11/jcb-hydromax-sets-406-mph-hydrogen-land-speed-record-at-bonneville) — JCB Hydromax Sets 406-MPH Hydrogen Land Speed Record At Bonneville - [Novinky.cz](https://novinky.cz/clanek/auto-vodikovy-special-od-jcb-pokoril-rychlostni-rekord-40592200) — JCB's Hydrogen Special Breaks Speed Record - [Tech Spot](https://techspot.com/news/113432-hydrogen-powered-1600-hp-car-takes-aim-multiple.html) — Hydrogen-powered 1,600-hp car takes aim at multiple land-speed records on Bonneville Salt Flats this morning - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/sports/britains-jcb-hydromax-sets-world-land-speed-record-a-hydrogen-powered-vehicle-2026-08-11) — Britain's JCB Hydromax sets world land speed record for a  hydrogen-powered vehicle - [BangShift.com](https://bangshift.com/bangshift-galleries/more-bonneville-speed-week-photos-weve-still-got-more-speed-week-2026-photos-from-the-bonneville-salt-flats) — More Bonneville Speed Week Photos! We’ve Still Got More Speed Week 2026 Photos from the Bonneville Salt Flats! - [autoevolution](https://autoevolution.com/news/1600-hp-hydrogen-streamliner-sets-bonneville-speed-record-as-it-gears-for-fia-run-this-week-273977.html) — 1,600-HP Hydrogen Streamliner Sets Bonneville Speed Record as It Gears for FIA Run This Week ## Questions **What speed did Andy Green reach in the hydrogen-powered car?** Andy Green reached an average speed of 406.320 mph across two runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new FIA-certified land speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The record required two runs in opposite directions within an hour, with speeds measured over a mile in each direction. **How does the JCB Hydromax’s engine work?** The JCB Hydromax is powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines adapted from JCB’s construction machinery. The engines mix pressurised hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to generate power, producing a combined 1,600 horsepower. This differs from hydrogen fuel cells, which generate electricity. **What was the previous hydrogen land speed record?** The previous hydrogen land speed record was 185.5 mph, set in 2004 by a BMW research prototype. Andy Green’s 406.320 mph run in the JCB Hydromax surpassed it by over 200 mph. The previous FIA-certified record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle was 302.877 mph, set in 2009. **Why did JCB attempt the record?** JCB framed the record attempt as a demonstration of hydrogen’s potential for heavy industry, particularly in locations lacking electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The company’s chairman, Lord Bamford, stated the achievement proved hydrogen combustion could deliver zero emissions at low cost, aligning with JCB’s growing hydrogen engine business. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/tech/andy-green-breaks-hydrogen-powered-land-speed-record-at-406-mph-in-utah. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Andy Green breaks hydrogen-powered land speed record at 406 mph in Utah", https://mediabias.news/tech/andy-green-breaks-hydrogen-powered-land-speed-record-at-406-mph-in-utah