Extreme H unveils Pioneer 25 hydrogen racing car

Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen off-road racing championship, has introduced its driving machine - the Pioneer 25. It will put the hydrogen racing car through its paces at Extreme E’s Hydro X Prix in Scotland this month.

After proving battery-electric cars are capable in off-road racing, Extreme E wants to demonstrate the same with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, so it is evolving into Extreme H. The newly formed racing series showcased the Pioneer 25, which is essentially a heavily modified Odyssey 21 from Extreme E. It uses a Symbio-made 75 kW hydrogen fuel cell and a 700 bar hydrogen tank with a storage capacity of 2 kg. The hydrogen fuel cell powers a 36 kWh battery pack, which comes from Australian company Fortescue. The new off-road racing car sports two 200 kW electric motors, one at the front and one at the back.

With 400 kW of system power and 450 Nm of system torque, the Pioneer 25 can hit 0 to 100 kph in just 4.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 200 kph. The hydrogen racing car has double wishbone suspension at both ends, sourced from American specialist FOX. It can climb gradients of up to 130%.

While the Odyssey 21 is a left-hand drive model with a seating capacity of two people, the Pioneer 25 is a single-seater with the driving seat in the central position. It is 4.8 metres long, 1.9 metres wide, and 2.4 metres tall and has a wheelbase of 3.2 metres. Weighing 2,200 kg, it is 305 kg heavier than the Odyssey 21.

All the Pioneer 25 units in the Extreme H hydrogen racing series will consist of a common package of standardised parts from Spark Racing Technology. Teams will have some leeway with the design of the front and rear bodywork and lights to achieve the look of regular cars.

The Extreme H hydrogen racing series will start in April 2025 and include 10 rounds across five locations. The championship will open in Saudi Arabia and its following races will take place in the order of succession in the UK, Germany, Italy, and the US.

“We are incredibly proud to introduce the world to the first hydrogen racing car and the Extreme H series,” says Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme H. “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.”

extreme-e.com (car specifications), extreme-e.com (race locations)