The First Hydrogen-Powered Race Car has Passed FIA Crash Tests

The Pioneer 25 represents a significant milestone in motorsports, having passed the required FIA crash tests. Designed specifically for Extreme H, the first hydrogen-powered motorsport, the car reaches speeds of up to 200 km/h (124 mph).

Over the years, several functional hydrogen rally and race cars have been built as prototypes, but none have been homologated for competition. This makes Extreme H’s successful testing especially important, given that hydrogen is still a relatively new and uncommon automotive fuel, known for its explosiveness in certain air mixtures.

Hydrogen’s Safety Advantage: Rapid Rise Reduces Explosion Risk

It’s noteworthy that if a hydrogen tank is punctured and gas is released, hydrogen is about 14 times lighter than air and rises quickly at a speed of 20 meters per second (66 ft/sec). As a result, the U.S. Department of Energy states it’s less prone to causing explosions than gasoline.

The FIA crash tests focused on side-impact and rollover safety. After these tests, the Pioneer 25 will proceed with further track evaluations.

“We shouldn’t underestimate this achievement,” said Mark Grain, Extreme H’s technical director. “This is the first hydrogen race car to meet FIA standards. We collaborated closely with the FIA to establish these crash tests, engaging in extensive discussions about loads, speeds, and other factors. In the end, they set the criteria, and we designed and built a car that passed.”

Pioneer 25: Advanced Hydrogen Power and Safety Features

The Pioneer 25 is powered by Symbio hydrogen fuel cell technology, featuring a 2kg hydrogen tank with 700-bar pressure. It has a tubular space frame chassis with a centrally positioned driver’s seat, surrounded by FIA-mandated impact structures.

The car produces up to 550 hp (400 kW) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, while also being capable of handling gradients as steep as 130% (52.4 degrees). Its low center of gravity and improved suspension geometry further enhance its ride and handling.

“The chassis is significantly stronger, but we’ve added carbon composite crash structures over the two hydrogen tanks. For the side impact test, we also used composite energy-absorbing structures on both sides. The high- and low-pressure hydrogen systems were installed during the tests,” explained Grain.

Pressure Monitoring Ensures Hydrogen System Integrity During Tests

He continued, “The systems were pressurized for both tests, with live data monitoring the pressure levels to ensure no damage or pressure loss occurred. I’m happy to report that in all tests, both high and low pressures were maintained, indicating the hydrogen system remained intact.”

Spark Racing Technology supplies a standardized parts package for each Pioneer 25 competing in Extreme H. However, teams have some flexibility to modify the front and rear fascias to resemble traditional internal combustion race cars.

Hydrogen-Powered Racing Set to Revolutionize Clean Energy Motorsport

Extreme H is the hydrogen-powered, zero-emissions counterpart to the electric off-road motorsport, Extreme E. Set to launch in 2025, it will highlight cutting-edge hydrogen engine technology in competitive racing, marking a significant step toward clean energy. As a single-make series, the Pioneer 25 wasn’t developed to outperform rivals.

The Pioneer 25 was originally slated to race in the Island X Prix events in Sardinia this September, but both races have been postponed. As a result, the car will return to France for further testing. While this theoretically offers more time for development, Grain insists that operations are proceeding on schedule.

“The last thing we want is to lose momentum. If Alejandro (Agag, Extreme H founder and CEO) decides racing starts January 1, we need to be ready to say, ‘Yes, we’re prepared,’” Grain emphasized.

Before additional track testing later this month and in October, the next major step for the Pioneer 25 is to undergo FIA resilience testing for its tanks and battery packs. All Extreme H cars are expected to enter production in the coming weeks, with teams scheduled to receive their deliveries by the end of the year.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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