What is Extreme E racing?

From electric SUVs to hydrogen power, Extreme E-Racing is evolving.

Remember when electric SUVs racing across desert dunes sounded like something from a sci-fi film? Well, that was Extreme E – the ambitious racing series that strived to make racing more environmentally-friendly.

First conceived in 2018 and launched in 2021, Extreme E was designed to be a radical off-road racing series using electric vehicles in remote corners of the planet impacted by climate change.

Not only this, but it also aimed to inspire the next generation, improve gender equality in racing, while also highlighting global environmental issues.

But here's the thing about ambitious projects – sometimes they evolve in ways you don't expect.

The series discontinued mid-way through the 2024 season, but there's a twist in this tale. Extreme E isn't disappearing – it's transforming into something completely different.

Enter Extreme H: the world's first hydrogen-powered racing championship, launching in 2025.

So, what happened to the electric racing dream? And what does this shift from batteries to hydrogen mean for the future of clean motoring?

Let's dive in.

The rise and fall of Extreme E

Extreme E was the brainchild of Alejandro Agag, who wanted to create a racing spectacle that also told the true story of climate change across the globe.

The inaugural season kicked off in April 2021, promising high-intensity, extreme motor racing designed to raise awareness of climate change and sustainable living.

But this wasn't just any racing series.

Extreme E had a unique format: eight teams, each consisting of one male and one female driver, racing to highlight global issues and inspire the next generation. The first race was held in Alula, Saudi Arabia.

To get to these remote locations, Extreme E relied on what they called their 'floating paddock and base' – the RMS St. Helena. The 30-year-old former cargo-passenger ship was revamped and refurbished to transport vehicles and infrastructure across the world.

It could run from a single-engine to improve fuel consumption and lower emissions, and also acted as a base for an onboard laboratory carrying out scientific research.

The original vision

Extreme E's founders had big ambitions. They claimed that 30% of the planet's CO2 emissions come from transport, so they planned to use the races to encourage positive change and a more sustainable future.

They had five core principles:

• Promote greater environmental responsibility
• Reduce the overall climate impact from sports
• Use its platform to educate for climate action
• Promote sustainable and responsible consumption
• Advocate for climate action through its communications

The racing format was equally ambitious.

Each race consisted of two laps over 16km, with races including varying terrains and difficult conditions, as well as jumps, dunes and water.

Between the two drivers on each team, each would get a lap each, but teams had to be strategic about which driver took which lap.

All teams drove the revolutionary Odyssey 21 electric SUV, powered by a 400kw battery, providing 550hp, while boasting 0-62mph times of just 4.5 seconds.

To put that in perspective, it offered more than 100hp more than what you'd get from a top-of-the-range Audi e-tron or Mercedes EQC.

The big names

The series attracted some serious star power.

Previous F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton and his former teammate, Nico Rosberg both entered teams, while former F1 champion Jenson Button founded the JBXE team. He raced alongside Swedish driver Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky.

Other high-profile drivers included rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr, Australian Rally champion Molly Taylor and W Series champion Jamie Chadwick.

Why did Extreme E end?

Despite the star power and ambitious vision, Extreme E's final season in 2024 only completed four of its ten planned races. The series announced it would be discontinued after the 2024 season, but this wasn't exactly a failure – it was more of an evolution.

Rather than admitting defeat, Extreme E was shifting gear – literally.

The focus was moving from electric power to hydrogen fuel cells, setting the stage for the next chapter in sustainable motorsport.

From electric to hydrogen: Enter Extreme H

What is Extreme H?

Meet the next chapter in extreme racing: Extreme H, launching in 2025 as the world's first hydrogen racing series.

The FIA Extreme H World Cup represents what organisers are calling "a bold, pioneering step forward in the transition to clean energy, showcasing cutting-edge hydrogen technology in a competitive racing environment."

At the heart of the series is the Pioneer 25 racing car, designed to demonstrate the viability and performance capabilities of hydrogen fuel cells.

And here's the thing – while the power source is changing, the format isn't.

That means the same mixed-gender teams, the same extreme locations, but powered by hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries.

The series will gain FIA World Championship status from 2026, giving it proper international recognition.

Why hydrogen?

The shift from electric to hydrogen isn't just about trying something new – it's about pushing the boundaries of what clean energy can achieve in motorsport.

Extreme H is designed to demonstrate that hydrogen fuel cells can deliver serious performance while setting new standards for eco-friendly motorsport. The Pioneer 25 racing car is specifically built to showcase just how viable hydrogen technology can be when pushed to its limits.

This represents the next step in the evolution that started with Extreme E.

While electric vehicles proved their worth in extreme conditions, despite stopping mid-season.

But then again, when better to announce Extreme H than when everyone’s eyes are already on Extreme E?

Genius marketing move? We can only assume.

Hydrogen offers a different approach to clean energy – one that could potentially solve some of the challenges that come with battery-powered racing in remote locations.

The series is positioning itself as a way to show that the transition to clean energy doesn't stop at batteries.

There's a whole world of hydrogen technology waiting to be explored, and what better way to test it than by racing in some of the world's most challenging environments?

Breaking barriers: Extreme E's gender equality success

While Extreme E may be ending, it's leaving behind one hell of a legacy – and the numbers speak for themselves.

Extreme E's pioneering mixed-gender racing format didn't just break boundaries in motorsport, it proved that equitable competition environments can drive measurable progress.

In just four seasons, on-track data showed the performance gap between male and female drivers narrowed by almost 70%.

Here's how dramatic that improvement was:

• Season 1: Female drivers' times were, on average, 4.5 seconds slower than their male counterparts
• Season 2: A 29.76% improvement from Season 1
• Season 3: Performance improved by an additional 29.67%
• Season 4: The gap shrank to just 1.1 seconds – a 68.64% reduction from where it started

What makes Season 4's figures even more remarkable is that Extreme E only completed four of its ten rounds that year, meaning female drivers achieved this leap in performance with limited track time.

What drove this change?

Unlike traditional motorsport formats, Extreme E required every team to field one male and one female driver, sharing the same vehicle and providing equal responsibility for performance.

This wasn't just about ticking boxes – it created a framework that actually worked.

This approach meant:

1. Increased seat time: Female drivers gained the same competitive experience and visibility as their male teammates
2. Equal investment: Teams invested equally in training and development for both drivers
3. Confidence building: Female drivers weren't just competing against the best drivers in the world, including legends like Carlos Sainz Sr, Sebastien Loeb, and Nasser Al-Attiyah – they were also gaining from their mentorship as teammates
4. Data sharing: Female and male drivers worked together reviewing key data points from the car to improve overall performance

The result? Proof that when you create the right environment and opportunities, performance gaps can close dramatically.

It's a lesson that goes way beyond motorsport.

Extreme E might be over, but its legacy runs much deeper than just racing results. In four short seasons, it proved that motorsport could be a genuine force for environmental awareness and social change – not just entertainment.

The series showed us that electric vehicles could handle the most extreme conditions on Earth, paving the way for broader acceptance of EV technology.

More importantly, it demonstrated that when you create equal opportunities, performance gaps that have existed for decades can close dramatically.

Now, as Extreme H prepares to take the baton, we're witnessing the next chapter in sustainable motorsport. The shift from electric to hydrogen isn't a step backwards – it's proof that the clean energy revolution has multiple paths forward.

In the meantime, electric vehicles continue to prove themselves as the practical choice for sustainable driving.

Extreme E may have crossed the finish line, but the race towards cleaner, more inclusive motoring is just getting started.

FAQs on Extreme E racing

Who is the CEO of Extreme E

Alejandro Agag founded and runs Extreme E as its CEO. He's no stranger to electric motorsport either – he also created Formula E, the all-electric FIA world championship series.

What is the difference between Extreme E and Extreme H

The main difference is the power source. Extreme E used electric vehicles powered by batteries, while Extreme H uses hydrogen fuel cells.

However, the format remains the same – mixed-gender teams racing in extreme locations.

Extreme H launches in 2025 with the Pioneer 25 racing car and will gain FIA World Championship status from 2026.

Why did Extreme E get cancelled

Extreme E wasn't exactly cancelled – it evolved.

The series completed its run through 2024, with only four of ten planned races completed in the final season. Rather than ending due to failure, it transformed into Extreme H to showcase hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Will hydrogen fuel cells replace electric cars

Not necessarily replace, but complement.

Hydrogen cars are still electric vehicles (classified as FCEVs - Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles), but they produce their own electricity through fuel cells rather than relying on charged batteries.

For everyday driving, battery electric vehicles currently have better infrastructure.

However, hydrogen offers advantages like faster refuelling (3-4 minutes) and consistent range regardless of temperature, making it suitable for different use cases.

How fast do Extreme E cars go

The Odyssey 21 electric SUV used in Extreme E could accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds, powered by a 400kw battery producing 550hp.

To put that in perspective, it had more than 100hp more than a top-spec Audi e-tron or Mercedes EQC.