Extreme E unveils world’s first hydrogen-powered race car
Extreme E has unveiled its new hydrogen race car, as the electric series continues its official evolution into Extreme H – the world’s first hydrogen racing series.
The ‘Pioneer 25’ hydrogen race car, featuring a special Red Bull livery, was revealed today aboard the series’ St. Helena ship in front of London’s Tower Bridge, as the countdown officially begins to its maiden season, starting in April 2025.
The championship’s inaugural race calendar was also unveiled, with 10 rounds across five locations. The series will open in Saudi Arabia, before heading to the UK, Germany and Italy, finishing in the USA.
This move for the series marks a bold step forward in the transition to clean energy, displaying cutting-edge hydrogen technology in a competitive racing environment.
Since launching in 2021, the championship has continually achieved the lowest carbon footprint per race out of all FIA series. Extreme H’s goal is to transition to a model where 100% of the site’s energy demand is sourced from hydrogen fuel cells, including support from a combination of solar, battery and wind power.
From transporting its cars and freight via its own ship (which reduces emissions by over 75 per cent compared to air freight) to racing in destinations impacted by climate change and supporting local NGO backed conservation projects in all of its race communities, Extreme H is a fully future-facing pioneer in sport.
Racing legends Carlos Sainz Sr. and Jimmie Johnson, F1 stars Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, have all backed teams in the championship’s first four years, with teams for the 2025 season set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
At the end of 2023, the championship announced the launch of a collaboration with Formula One and the FIA to bring together their collective expertise in a strategic alliance to evaluate developments and potential applications for hydrogen within motorsport and wider mobility.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme H, said:
“We are incredibly proud to introduce the world to the first hydrogen racing car and the Extreme H series. Fans can expect the same excitement with faster and more intense racing on track, but this launch is not just about a new vehicle; it’s about pioneering the future of sustainable motorsport. Hydrogen fuel cells offer a remarkable opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint and promote clean energy solutions, and we are proud to lead this charge with Extreme H. Our racing series has always been unique, but its future as Extreme H undoubtedly marks racing’s new frontier.”
Carlos Sainz, co-founder of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said:
“Venturing into hydrogen is a really exciting prospect for our series. It is all about pioneering new paths into sustainable mobility and this championship is unique in the sense that it puts the latest technology to the test in the toughest environments in the world. Hydrogen has a pivotal role to play on both the road and in racing, so Extreme H will be a key stepping stone into what the future of driving will look like.”
Jenson Button, Team Owner of the JBXE Extreme E team, said:
“For Extreme E to be evolving into Extreme H is incredibly exciting and a brilliant step forward in such a short space of time for the series. To see racing of this calibre powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which will allow for even more racing with less impact, is remarkable.”
The new Pioneer 25 car was designed and manufactured by Spark Racing Technology and equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell from Symbio, Extreme H’s Official Fuel Cell Provider.
Partners for Extreme H include PIF, ENOWA, Vodafone Business, Symbio, Siemens and Jackson Swiss Partners.
With news of the teams and drivers to compete in Extreme H to be announced imminently, testing and developing the Pioneer 25 will continue at pace.
The first public outing of the Extreme H Pioneer 25 car is expected to take place with a demonstration at Extreme E’s next race, the Hydro X Prix, taking place in Scotland next month, July 13-14, 2024.
Images courtesy of Matt Ben Stone / Extreme H.
