The world’s first hydrogen race collection, Excessive H, unveiled its new automotive on Thursday with a contemporary give attention to inexperienced know-how and a shift away from racing in distant places to boost consciousness of local weather change.

Excessive E, its predecessor, had aimed to advertise sustainability and electrical automobiles by racing SUVs in harsh areas already hit by environmental harm in a ‘docu-sport’ idea.

Founder Alejandro Agag advised Reuters the change to inexperienced hydrogen, produced by splitting water by means of electrolysis utilizing renewable power, meant a brand new mission.

“The main focus earlier than was to showcase what is going on in these distant places,” he mentioned on the launch in London on board the previous mail ship St Helena that has served as a floating paddock and marine analysis platform.

“Now the main focus is just to hydrogen know-how, so we do not have that strain of going to these distant places to inform the story, we already did that.

“Now we are able to race nearer to Europe, nearer to the U.S. as a result of these are the locations the place hydrogen must be deployed.”

The ten-round 2025 calendar can have an opener in Saudi Arabia in April with races in Britain, Germany, Italy earlier than a finale in america.

System One champions Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are among the many current staff homeowners with seven instances NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson additionally a competitor.

Excessive E, launched in 2021 with similar SUVs and female and male drivers in each lineup, had ventured so far as Senegal, Greenland, Chile and Uruguay, however the St Helena’s future is now unsure.

“It was wonderful after we had been in Greenland on this ship however only a few sponsors may come, only a few companions. It is too far,” mentioned Agag. “I might like to preserve it, we nonetheless should decide as a result of it is very pricey.

“And if we do not go far-off it loses a bit it is motive of being. Nevertheless it’s an important place to guide the expertise of the races.”

Agag mentioned he deliberate to proceed Excessive E’s legacy programmes.

The Pioneer 25 SUV makes use of a 75kw hydrogen gasoline cell as principal power supply, with the automotive able to accelerating from 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and scale gradients of as much as 130%.

Pink Bull will be part of as a sponsor with Saudi funding fund PIF the collection’ principal accomplice.

“We’re going to be the primary ones actually racing on hydrogen for I believe fairly a while,” mentioned Agag. “Now we have a automotive that races, that has been examined for 1500km and we’re able to go. There shall be an H championship subsequent yr.”