Green Hydrogen Stars In Extreme E Racing Series Rebrand

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There he goes once more. Alejandro Agag, founding father of the System E and Excessive E battery-electric racing sequence, is now taking goal at gasoline cell electrical automobiles and inexperienced hydrogen, too. The brand new Excessive H sequence will probably be a showcase for improvements in gasoline cell mobility, and that’s simply the tip of the inexperienced hydrogen iceberg envisioned by Agag.

From System E To EV Charging Stations With Inexperienced Hydrogen

Formua E launched in September of 2013 as a department of FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Car), of the well-known System 1 sequence. I caught the battery-powered motion on the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin in Might of 2015, when Formula E was closing out its first season (see heaps extra Formula E stories here).

The EV battery charging expertise of 9 years in the past was not what it’s as we speak. Neither was battery-swapping expertise, for that matter. The “Gen1” automobiles of the unique System E got here in an identical pairs, enabling drivers to leap right into a recent EV to maintain the race transferring alongside, moderately than ready round to recharge or swap out the battery.

Simply three years later, in 2018 FIA ditched the car-switching technique in favor of new EV batteries with sufficient vary to complete a full race, no swapping allowed.

Three years after that, the Excessive E off-road sequence launched with a inexperienced hydrogen twist. In an effort to recharge the batteries in off-grid places alongside the course, Excessive E featured charging stations powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The stations adopted the Excessive E sequence because it moved across the globe, demonstrating sturdiness, reliability, and transportability for an off-grid, inexperienced hydrogen EV battery charging resolution.

The inexperienced hydrogen for the gasoline cells was produced from water by electrolysis with the facility supplied by on-site photo voltaic panels, eliminating the necessity for a grid connection, and pushing fossil power out of the hydrogen provide chain as properly.

Inexperienced Hydrogen In The Highlight

With Excessive H, Agag has pushed inexperienced hydrogen entrance and middle, a lot in order that the brand new sequence will not be an addition to Excessive E. As a substitute, it’s described as a rebrand of Excessive E right into a “new, more environmentally friendly racing format.”

Leaving that factor about extra environmentally pleasant apart for now, Agag is clearly amongst these desperate to discover new challenges within the zero emission mobility area.

“The evolution from Extreme E to Extreme H is one of the most thrilling advancements in motorsport and sustainable technology I have ever been part of,” Agag defined in a press assertion.

“This evolution promises not only faster and more intense racing, but also a significant step forward in exploring hydrogen as a sustainable and powerful energy source,” Agag enthuses.

Agag explains that Excessive E was geared toward showcasing and motivating planet-saving mobility improvements. With inexperienced hydrogen, the chance for broader functions has emerged. “Now, with Extreme H, we are taking that mission to a new level by embracing hydrogen, the magic molecule in the future of green power,” he provides.

“The core values remain unchanged: we’re still dedicated to creating a pioneering motorsport series that emphasises (sic) sustainability, gender equality, and thrilling competition,” Agag emphasizes.

No matter Occurred To “Fuel Cell Vehicles Are Bull—-?”

If all this discuss of thrillingness appears somewhat excessive, think about that one other excessive profile persona within the electrical car area has been trash-talking fuel cell vehicles for years (here’s one other instance). Because of this, gasoline cells have some catching as much as do within the public relations division.

Hydrogen gasoline cell passenger automobiles have been struggling to get a foothold within the world EV market, however trade stakeholders have indicated that gasoline cells are appropriate for bigger automobiles together with buses, vansand trucks in addition to trains and different off-road vehicles.

As for hydrogen itself, the “magic molecule” has many different makes use of in industrialized economies except for gasoline cell automobiles. The listing consists of fertilizer, meals processing, prescription drugs, toiletries, metallurgy and — considerably satirically — petroleum refining. That’s along with stationary makes use of, as demonstrated by the Excessive E gasoline cell battery-charging stations.

Pure fuel and gassified coal are the first sources of the worldwide hydrogen provide, which hardly appears magical. What excites Agag, amongst others, is the prospect of pushing that baggage-laden provide chain apart in favor of extra sustainable sources. Presently, a lot of the exercise round inexperienced hydrogen entails water electrolysis, although natural sources like wastewater and biogas additionally rising (see heaps extra hydrogen news here).

“Hydrogen’s potential is immense. It’s not just about e-mobility; it’s about creating green power solutions that can be applied anywhere, from remote locations to bustling cities,” Agag explains.

Promoting The Inexperienced Hydrogen Dream

Agag has set a excessive bar for Excessive H. Along with showcasing gasoline cell automobiles and hydrogen filling stations, Agag anticipates that System H will contribute to market-building efforts.

“By being the primary motorsport championship powered by inexperienced hydrogen, we’re setting a brand new customary and offering a novel platform for power firms to check and develop hydrogen options, he says.

The market-building angle goes to take some doing. The price of inexperienced hydrogen is coming down, however it’s nonetheless dearer than standard hydrogen. The US Division of Vitality, for instance, remains to be working off a benchmark of $5.00 per kilogram for inexperienced hydrogen, in direction of a aim of simply $1.00 per kilogram.

However, inexperienced hydrogen is already embedded within the decarbonization plans of a number of key governments together with the US, Europeand India. A few of the well-known manufacturers among the many numerous motorsports are already dipping their toes within the hydrogen fuel cell pool in a single type or one other, with Porsche and Toyota among the many examples.

Excessive H may benefit from a rising inexperienced hydrogen provide chain involving each startups and legacy stakeholders, like Siemens and Geopurawhich had been introduced on board final summer time within the runup to the Excessive E rebrand.

From Excessive E To Excessive H, With Girls

Agag doesn’t plan on leaving the expertise classes realized from Excessive E behind, regardless of the rebrand. Along with increasing the marketplace for inexperienced hydrogen, the plan is for Excessive H to hold ahead the Excessive model’s help for girls drivers.

“We’ve seen incredible progress in closing the performance gap between male and female drivers, leading to some of the most exciting and competitive racing,” Agag explains.

“This will continue to be a hallmark of Extreme H, alongside our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” he provides.

The gender outreach displays a rising spark of curiosity in ladies’s skilled sports activities, right here within the US and elsewhere. It stays to be seen if Excessive H can appeal to extra ladies to the game, both as drivers, engineers, or audiences, however you by no means know, the subsequent Mary Barra may very well be watching.

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Picture (cropped): The Extreme H racing car Pioneer 25 runs on a gasoline cell powered by inexperienced hydrogen (courtesy of Excessive E).