From the same people who brought us the Formula E and Extreme E electric racing series comes the new Extreme H series.
It is billed as the world’s first hydrogen racing series and will replace the four-year-old Extreme E series when the inaugural season begins next year.
Just like Extreme E, Extreme H is an off-road racing series where teams compete in a standard vehicle. Extreme H’s vehicle is known as the Pioneer 25 and was first shown at a launch event in London on June 27.
The Pioneer 25 is similar to the the Odyssey 21 used in the Extreme E as it features an electric powertrain. However, instead of a battery storing the energy, the newcomer features a battery and a hydrogen tank. The hydrogen powers a fuel cell that charges the battery, which in turn powers the electric powertrain.
The fuel cell is supplied by a company called Symbio and provides 75 kW to charge a 36 kWh battery pack. The electric powertrain consists of a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup delivering a peak of 536 hp, or enough to accelerate the Pioneer 25 from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 124 mph. A range has not been announced.
Spark Racing Technology, a racing car manufacturer founded in 2012 by the current Ferrari F1 Team Leader Fred Vasseuris the company responsible for the design and production of the Pioneer 25. The company also supplies racing cars for Formula E.
Most of the current teams competing in Extreme E are expected to compete in Extreme H. The teams include some established names in motorsport, such as Andretti and McLaren.
The first public test of the Pioneer 25 will take place during the Extreme E round in Scotland, scheduled for July 13th and 14th. Extreme H’s inaugural season will contain 10 rounds until 2025, starting in Saudi Arabia, before traveling across Europe and finishing in the USA. The final calendar will be announced later this year.