Extreme E has launched its new hydrogen race car, the Pioneer 25, marking the first stage of its transition to Extreme H – the world’s first hydrogen racing series.
Unveiling and features
The Pioneer 25 was revealed to industry leaders, environmental advocates and media representatives on board the St Helena vessel in London, with the UK capital’s Tower Bridge as the backdrop. The car aims to demonstrate that sustainability and high performance can coexist.
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. This launch is not just about a new vehicle; it’s about pioneering the future of sustainable motorsport.
“Our evolution to Extreme H makes us the first-ever testbed of hydrogen technology in motorsport – not only in our racing cars, but also transportation, infrastructure, refuelling processes and safety regulations.”
Developed by Spark Racing Technology and equipped with a Symbio hydrogen fuel cell, the Pioneer 25 has undergone testing equivalent to three seasons of racing. It features a 75kW hydrogen fuel cell, powering a battery pack from Fortescue Zero. Extreme E says the car has a peak output of 400kW (550hp), can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds and can handle gradients of up to 130%.
Mark Grain, technical director at Extreme E, said, “There has been no compromise with the Pioneer 25. We’ve learnt a lot from the Odyssey 21…the Pioneer 25 is a significant upgrade. Overall performance of the car has taken a big step forward. The all-new suspension geometry with driver adjustable shock absorbers from FOX on the Extreme H car provides a great platform for the power and torque that’s going to be available to the drivers.
“We’ve demonstrated EVs can cope with very harsh environments and racing in hard conditions in Extreme E, so moving to Extreme H is a natural progression.”
What’s next for Extreme H?
With the maiden season starting in April 2025, the next major milestone for Extreme H will be the first public test of the Pioneer 25 at the Extreme E’s Hydro X Prix in Scotland in July this year. The debut Extreme H series will feature a 10-round calendar across five locations for its debut season, starting in Saudi Arabia and concluding in the USA.
Several partners are key to the championship’s success, including PIF, Enowa NEOM, Vodafone Business, Symbio, Siemens and Jackson Swiss Partners. PIF is the principal partner across all three electric race series in the Electric 360 (E360) partnership – Formula E, Extreme E and E1.
Team leaders and partners expressed their enthusiasm for the new hydrogen-powered era. Carlos Sainz, Jenson Button, Ian James, Jimmie Johnson, Kimmo Liimatainen, Dan Bailey and Roger Griffiths all praised the innovative step toward sustainable mobility and the potential of hydrogen technology in motorsport.
