The previous Extreme E off-road racing series comprised eight teams, each with one male and one female driver, driving electrically powered, custom built 4WD cars. This round the world competition series was designed to highlight a number of important global issues and not just the advances being made by electric cars. Event venues were chosen in specific countries to highlight particular local environmental concerns with regard to that magic word ‘sustainability’ which seems to cover a multitude of topics and headlines these days.
Perhaps of more specific interest to motor sports enthusiasts was the technological and engineering expertise behind this which made it all possible. Of course the organisers and ‘big-tech’ sponsors behind it were also keen to promote the engineering innovations and hopefully inspire a new generation who might be fearful of what alternatively powered motor sport had for their future.
Anyway, the aim was always geared towards the production of their own hydrogen powered cars as previously the organisers generated their own electricity supply and recharging infrastructure through their own on-site, self contained, transportable hydrogen powered electricity generators. As for the production of hydrogen fuel, well that’s another problem, but apparently it is preferable to drilling holes in the seabed or digging dirty great holes in the ground searching for rare minerals.
Anyway that’s for others more qualified to sort out, rather than us mere politician tax-fodder generators. What’s of real interest is the outcome and this latest breed of hydrogen powered competition car produces some 550 bhp and has a top speed of around 120 mph with a nought to 60 acceleration time of 4.5 seconds.
Extreme H’s technical director also explained that each car is comprised of a common package of standardised parts, while the individual teams have some latitude with utilising the hydrogen fuel cell plus the ability to style bodywork elements – which could be made to replicate the look of everyday car models. That last part is important to everyday motorists and other competition users as the ‘testbed’ cars which the Extreme E and H series use look like the progeny of a successful mating between beach buggies and ‘Dakar’ monsters. In other words, there is every possibility that you could fit the drivetrain into a Mk2 Escort !!
Elsewhere in the world work continues apace on the development of alternative fuels for internal combustion engines, including hydrogen, so the ICE ain’t quite dead yet.
