Hydrogen car breaks land speed record at 406 mph

A hydrogen-powered car driven by retired Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green reached 406 mph (654 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on August 12, 2026, setting a new land speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The achievement more than doubles the previous official hydrogen combustion record set in 2004.

Green is no stranger to extreme speed. In 1997, he drove the jet-powered ThrustSSC across Nevada's Black Rock Desert at 763 mph (1,228 km/h), becoming the first and still the only person to break the sound barrier on land.

The new record highlights the potential of hydrogen as a high-performance fuel, even as the technology is still emerging in mainstream automotive markets. Hydrogen combustion produces no carbon dioxide emissions, making it an attractive option for reducing the environmental impact of transportation.

The previous official hydrogen combustion title, set in 2004, stood at less than half the speed Green achieved. The Bonneville Salt Flats, a vast, flat expanse in northwestern Utah, has long been a venue for land speed record attempts due to its smooth, hard surface.

Green's latest run was captured on video and published by BBC News, which reported the record-breaking speed. The retired RAF pilot's career has spanned both military aviation and high-speed land vehicles, with his 1997 sound barrier feat remaining unmatched more than two decades later.

The new record may encourage further development of hydrogen-powered racing and performance vehicles, though no immediate plans for additional record attempts were announced.