Hydrogen: F1, FIA, and Extreme H join forces to make internal combustion engines pollution-free
Formula 1, the FIA, and Extreme E's sister series, Extreme H, have announced the formation of a joint working group on hydrogen, which will begin in 2025. The goal is to potentially use this alternative to fossil fuels, primarily for ecological reasons.
The parties will evaluate how hydrogen technology, including battery systems and fuel cells, can be used in motorsport, with a focus on improving the sustainability qualities of transportation and infrastructure.
This group will be composed of three representatives from different categories. The F1 will be represented by the technical director Pat Symonds, the FIA by the director of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis, and the Extreme H by Mark Grain, the technical director of Extreme E.
Symonds said: “Our sport has a tradition of putting new technologies at the forefront of public perception in incredibly short timeframes. We achieve this by being open-minded to all solutions and by embracing cross-functional engineering.”
« With the mitigation of climate change being at the forefront of everyone’s concerns, we are committed to promoting sustainability and must therefore explore all areas of decarbonizing the mobility sector. This must include sustainable liquid hydrocarbon fuels, electrification, and hydrogen ».
« This working group allows for collaboration that will allow us to gain direct experience and contribute to the understanding and development of the numerous aspects of hydrogen propulsion that the Extreme H will encompass ».
Pat Symonds highlighted that hydrogen fuel cell systems are inefficient for racing because they generate a lot of heat but need to operate at a relatively low temperature. This would require cars to be equipped with much larger radiators.
« Is hydrogen a viable source of energy for racing engines? I believe the answer is undoubtedly yes, but is it a better solution than, let’s say, a blend of advanced sustainable biofuel and e-fuel? », before concluding its development by, « it is a more difficult question to answer as much will depend on how transport fuel infrastructure develops in the next ten or twenty years ».
The brand new Extreme H series is planning a high-speed first shakedown of its hydrogen-powered off-road racing vehicle by the end of this year, followed by a more comprehensive testing program in early 2024. The series is expected to debut in 2025.
Tombazis added: « As the governing body of the FIA Formula One World Championship and the upcoming FIA Extreme H Championship in 2025, we welcome this latest collaboration ».
« The FIA Technical Department has experience and expertise in the field of hydrogen technology, which we will bring to the working group with sporting, safety, and regulatory expertise. […] As is currently the case for the entire portfolio of FIA motorsport, we will draw lessons from this collaboration for the benefit of our sport and our mobility ».
On its part, the ACO, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organizer of the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is expected to postpone the introduction of a hydrogen prototype class by one year, to 2027.
