JCB Hydromax: 653.9 km/h with hydrogen drive

We Were There! Poppe + Potthoff Helps with the Record-Breaking Run of a Hydrogen Racer

2026-08-17 Source: Poppe + Potthoff | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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The hydrogen vehicle JCB Hydromax, developed by the British construction machinery manufacturer JCB, drove over 650 kilometers per hour (approx. 404 mph)—Poppe + Potthoff (P+P) played a part in this ...

With the JCB Hydromax, the U.S. company JCB has now set the new speed record for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Systems from Poppe + Potthoff in Germany have contributed to this ...(Image: JCB) — With the JCB Hydromax, the U.S. company JCB has now set the new speed record for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Systems from Poppe + Potthoff in Germany have contributed to this ...
(Image: JCB)

With an officially measured average speed of 653.909 kilometers per hour (approx. 406.32 mph),, the JCB-Hydromax surpassed the previous record, as announced by Poppe + Potthoff. At the same time, it set a new benchmark for hydrogen-powered drives. The record-breaking vehicle is powered by two hydrogen combustion engines with a total output of 1,600 HP (approximately 1,175 kilowatts). The drive also incorporates components from the modular Topaq hydrogen distribution system by P + P, as reported. "The JCB-Hydromax uniquely demonstrates the performance capabilities of hydrogen-based drives," commented Markus Kerkhoff, CEO of P+P. "We are proud to have contributed to this with our Topaq system components," Kerkhoff stated.

P+P Expertise Boosts Hydrogen Drive

As part of its close collaboration with JCB, P+P supported the vehicle development process from the initial testing phase to the final integration of the components. The integrated system components include the active high-pressure regulation unit, distribution rails (Parallel Charging Units), lines, and adapters. Within the system architecture, these components ensure the demand-oriented and efficient supply of hydrogen combustion engines, according to P+P. Through optimally coordinated integration and efficiently designed interfaces, the overall system's complexity was kept low while ensuring high system stability. During the development and validation phase, extensive testing quickly confirmed that reliable system performance could be expected. The successful deployment in the JCB-Hydromax ultimately demonstrated this performance even under the extreme conditions of the record-breaking run.

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