A hydrogen fuel cell series may either join or replace Extreme E in 2024

Extreme E boss Alejandro Agag has announced a plan to launch a hydrogen-powered version of the 550bhp Odyssey 21 off-road racer, with an Extreme H championship set to begin in 2024. 

“Extreme E was designed to be a testbed for innovation and solutions for mobility,” said Agag. “It has become increasingly clear to us that creating a hydrogen racing series is a natural evolution of our mission to showcase the possibilities of new technologies in the race to fight climate issues.”

A hydrogen fuel cell would replace the batteries in the current Extreme E racer, with green hydrogen (created using a combination of solar and water) sourced to power the electric motors.

The change to the powertrain should mean that the Odyssey 21s can run for longer than 20 minutes – their current BEV limit – although how the championship would work is yet to be decided. 

Agag said: “Together with the current Extreme E teams we will decide in the coming months the best way to integrate the hydrogen-powered cars into the racing weekend. Two separate categories, full transition to hydrogen or joint racing are all options on the table.”

Development for the Extreme H car is apparently underway already, though, with a prototype set to be launched in early 2023. Thoughts, Internet?