Extreme E has cancelled the remaining races in its 2024 season ahead of the series’ transition to the hydrogen-powered Extreme H.
Confirmed:
- Races in Sardinia, Italy and Phoenix, US, will no longer take place
- The series is exploring alternative venues in order to finish the season
Context:
Extreme E intends to finish its 2024 season but the chances of this happening are certainly not guaranteed. Focus is on the shift to hydrogen power and it is clear that the investment required for this has now affected the culmination of the championship’s electric era. Ultimately, the series will want at least one more race to be able to give Extreme E an appropriate send off.
In better news for the championship, its hydrogen-powered car has passed the mandatory chassis crash tests with the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the first hydrogen racing car to do so.
Comment:
Alejandro Agag, founder and chief executive of Extreme E, said: “As we continue our transition to Extreme H, we are fully committed to becoming the world’s first hydrogen racing series. The investment and progress in the innovations are in full flow. Excitement grows every day as the industry continues to turn its head towards the possibilities hydrogen presents.
“In this current year of evolution, we all want to find a conclusion to Extreme E, which enables us to finish what we started, whilst at the same time, allows us to commit maximum resource into our Extreme H developments.
“We thank the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), Regione Sardegna, and the Italian military along with our Phoenix team, for all their support and understanding in recent weeks, and keep the door open to future collaboration. We are working closely with our teams and stakeholders to find alternative solutions to fulfil Extreme E’s final season schedule.”
Coming next:
Ahead of the series’ transition to hydrogen power, the car must still undertake resilience tests for its tanks and battery packs, before further track testing is carried out later this month and in October. Production of the cars will also begin in the coming weeks, with their delivery expected before the end of 2024.
Go deeper:
- ‘Extreme E is not ending, it’s getting better’: Ali Russell clarifies the series’ hydrogen-powered future
- Ali Russell on Extreme E’s broadcast strategy, new markets, and the goal of hydrogen-powered racing
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