From the same people who brought us the electric racing series Formula E and Extreme E comes the new series Extreme H.
It is believed to be the world’s first hydrogen racing series and will replace the four-year-old Extreme E series when its first season starts next year.
Like Extreme E, Extreme H is an off-road racing series where teams compete using a shared vehicle. Extreme H’s vehicle is known as the Pioneer 25 and was first shown at a launch event in London on 27 June.
The Pioneer 25 is similar to the Odyssey 21 used in Extreme E, in that it has an electric drivetrain. However, instead of a battery to store the energy, the newcomer has both a battery and a hydrogen tank. The hydrogen feeds a fuel cell that charges the battery, which in turn powers the electric drivetrain.
The fuel cell is supplied by the Symbio company and delivers 75 kW to charge a 36 kWh battery. The electric powertrain consists of a twin-motor all-wheel drive system that delivers a peak power of 536 hp, enough to accelerate the Pioneer 25 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 200 km/h. No range has been announced.
Spark Racing Technology, the racing car manufacturer founded in 2012 by current Ferrari F1 team boss Fred Vasseur, is the company responsible for the design and production of the Pioneer 25. The company also supplies Formula E with its racing cars.
It is expected that most of the current teams participating in Extreme E will also participate in Extreme H. The teams include some established names from motorsport, such as Andretti and McLaren.
The first public test for the Pioneer 25 will take place at the Extreme E round in Scotland, scheduled for July 13-14. The first season of Extreme H will feature 10 rounds running through 2025, starting in Saudi Arabia, before traveling through Europe and ending in the US. The final calendar will be announced later this year.