Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro Pioneer 25 marks the turning point in hydrogen motorsport, becoming the first car to pass FIA crash tests with a technology that will revolutionize zero-emission racing
©Extreme H
The car is designed exclusively for Extreme H racing and has passed the FIA crash tests-a first in the world of hydrogen racing. It is not just a car but really a symbol of the future of sustainable competitions where speed meets green innovation. Powered by hydrogen, Pioneer 25 reaches 124 mph; it represents a leap forward toward a motorsport as promising as it will be green.
The FIA crash tests are like a hall of fame entry in motorsports for the uninitiated into the world of racing. For that matter, the Pioneer 25 was the first hydrogen-run race car ever to have achieved it, and that too was a big achievement considering hydrogen is very explosive in certain mixtures. But here’s the kicker: because of its tendency to disperse quickly upward-in a sweet 65 feet per second, if the U.S. Department of Energy is to be believed-it’s actually less dangerous than more “traditional” fuels like gasoline.
These also included side impact and rollover trials-challenges every race car had to pass before hitting the track. Now, having passed these exams, it is time for road tests with the Pioneer 25, which has its eyes set on the first inaugural season of Extreme H in 2025.
A zero-emission revolution
If Extreme H is unfamiliar, just think of it as a greener version of the already ingenious Extreme E. But these cars take that entry to a whole new level-it’s entirely hydrogen-powered. The Pioneer 25 does not lack in any aspect. With Symbio’s advanced fuel cell fitted, high-pressure tanks store 4.4 pounds of hydrogen at 10,150 psi. Result? 550 pure horses, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in mere 4.5 seconds, and performance on rough terrain was no worse than for a conventional petrol car.
“The reason the car exists at all is its robust chassis, and the composite materials protect the hydrogen tanks,” Mark Grain, technical director at Extreme H, said. “Those composite elements are designed to absorb any lateral impact.”.
Tests of the tanks and batteries will continue through the Hydro X-Prix at the end of July, but the objective has remained to have all ready for the first official race in 2025. Alejandro Agag, founder of the series, certainly has no doubts: “The races will start on January 1, 2025”, he stated without any question, knowing full well he stands on the threshold of a new era in racing.
