British driver who broke sound barrier sets new speed record
Retired RAF pilot Andy Green has set a new world speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle, reaching 406mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The achievement marks a significant milestone for hydrogen internal combustion technology, building on Green's previous records in jet and diesel-powered cars.
Why it matters
This record demonstrates the potential of hydrogen as a high-performance alternative fuel source for heavy engineering and automotive applications.
By Yang Tian Published 19 minutes ago A British driver who was the first person to break the sound barrier in a car on land has set a new speed record, this time in a hydrogen-powered vehicle.
Andy Green, a 64-year-old retired Royal Air Force pilot, reached a speed of 406mph (654km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the fastest a hydrogen-powered car has ever travelled.
Green's record was measured as an average of two runs in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines, with a combined 1,600 brake horsepower (bhp).
In 1997, Green drove the jet-powered ThrustSSC across Nevada's Black Rock Desert at 763mph (1,228km/h), making him the first, and still the only person, to break the sound barrier on land.
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