The Pioneer 25, developed for the upcoming hydrogen-powered motorsport series Extreme H, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first hydrogen race car to pass the rigorous FIA crash tests. This marks a notable advancement in motorsports and clean energy technology as hydrogen, while still emerging as a viable fuel for vehicles, makes its entry into competitive racing.
The first of its kind in motorsports
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are not entirely new in the automotive world, but until now, none had successfully completed the homologation process to compete in an FIA-sanctioned motorsport. The Pioneer 25 represents a significant departure from earlier prototypes, some of which were only functional on a conceptual level.
With hydrogen’s reputation for being highly flammable in certain air mixtures, the safety concerns surrounding the use of this alternative fuel in motorsports have been considerable. Extreme H’s success in passing these critical crash tests underscores the potential of hydrogen as a competitive, albeit safer, fuel source.
One important aspect of hydrogen fuel, as noted by the US Department of Energy, is that even if a hydrogen tank is punctured and gas leaks, hydrogen gas is 14 times lighter than air. This means it rises rapidly—at about 20 meters per second (66 feet per second)—making it less likely to pool near the vehicle or cause an explosion compared to gasoline. This property offers a level of safety that perhaps wasn’t as well understood when hydrogen vehicles first came onto the scene.
FIA crash test requirements and results
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motorsports, has stringent safety regulations, particularly concerning crash tests. For the Pioneer 25, these tests focused on side-impact and rollover safety, which are critical areas given the high-speed nature of racing and the possibility of accidents during events.
Mark Grain, the technical director for Extreme H, explained the importance of the achievement, saying, “We shouldn’t underestimate this. It’s the first hydrogen race car that’s passed FIA muster. We’ve worked with the FIA to define these crash tests, and there’s been huge collaboration with constructive conversations back and forward to arrive at the loads and speeds and so on, but, ultimately, they have defined them, and we’ve designed and built a car that’s passed them.”
The Pioneer 25’s ability to pass these tests is no small feat, as it required significant modifications and structural reinforcements to ensure the vehicle could absorb impacts safely while protecting its hydrogen fuel systems. The car is built on a tubular space frame chassis, which is designed to distribute impact forces. FIA-mandated crash structures surround the central driver seat to provide additional protection during side impacts and rollovers.
The Pioneer 25’s hydrogen fuel system, powered by Symbio hydrogen fuel cell technology, underwent intense scrutiny during the tests. Grain confirmed that during both high- and low-pressure testing, the systems held up perfectly. “The systems were pressurized for both tests, and the pressures within them were monitored as live data,” he explained. “I’m pleased to say that in each of the tests, both high and low pressures were maintained and that’s the indication that there was no damage to the hydrogen system.”
Performance and capabilities of the Pioneer 25
Beyond its successful crash tests, the Pioneer 25 is engineered to perform like a top-tier race car. With a hydrogen tank capacity of 2kg pressurized at 700 bar, the car can generate up to 550 horsepower (400 kW), allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Its top speed is an impressive 200 km/h (124 mph), which places it firmly in the league of competitive racing vehicles. The car’s ride quality is enhanced by a low center of gravity and advanced suspension geometry, giving it the ability to handle steep gradients of up to 130%, or 52.4 degrees.
The Pioneer 25’s chassis has been further strengthened with carbon composite crash structures to protect the hydrogen tanks. These composite materials are designed to absorb energy during a crash, reducing the impact on critical components like the fuel system. The combination of lightweight materials and structural reinforcements has created a race car that not only performs well but also meets the strict safety standards required for motorsports.
Looking ahead: Extreme H and the future of hydrogen racing
Extreme H is positioned as a hydrogen-based, zero-emissions counterpart to the electric off-road motorsport series, Extreme E. Set to begin in 2025, Extreme H will showcase hydrogen engine technology in a competitive racing environment. The series will be a single-make competition, meaning that all teams will race with the same car, the Pioneer 25. However, teams are allowed some customization of the front and rear fascias to give their vehicles a unique look, reminiscent of traditional internal combustion engine race cars.
Spark Racing Technology, a well-known name in the world of motorsports, provides a standardized parts package for all Pioneer 25 cars, ensuring consistency and reliability across the series. However, as a single-make series, the focus of Extreme H is less on engineering advantages between teams and more on the drivers’ skills and the technology behind hydrogen fuel cells.
Extreme H aims to promote hydrogen as a viable, sustainable fuel for motorsports and beyond. By introducing this zero-emissions race series, Extreme H intends to pave the way for broader adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles, showcasing their capabilities in the challenging and competitive environment of off-road racing.
Next steps and future testing
The Pioneer 25 was scheduled to debut in September 2024 during the Island X Prix events in Sardinia. However, both events were postponed, and the car has since returned to France for additional testing. According to Grain, the timeline for the car’s development remains unchanged despite the postponement. “The worst thing we can do, from a technical and car point of view, is take our foot off the accelerator and lose the ability to go racing,” Grain stated, emphasizing the team’s commitment to staying on schedule.
Looking ahead, the Pioneer 25 will undergo further track testing, with particular focus on the durability of its hydrogen tanks and battery packs in FIA resilience tests. Production for the Extreme H series cars is expected to begin soon, with team deliveries slated for the end of the year.
Source: Extreme H
