Hydrogen-Powered Car Hits 406 MPH at Bonneville

A hydrogen-powered car has reached more than 400 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new speed record for a hydrogen-fueled internal-combustion vehicle.

British racing driver Andy Green, who famously became the first person to break the sound barrier on land in 1997, reached 406.3 mph behind the wheel of the experimental JCB machine.

The car is powered by hydrogen-burning internal-combustion engines rather than an electric powertrain, making the record an interesting demonstration of another potential path for high-performance hydrogen propulsion.

And at more than 400 mph, it is also a pretty spectacular way to make the case for hydrogen.