Inexperienced Hydrogen Stars In Excessive E Racing Sequence Rebrand

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

From Formulation E To EV Charging Stations With Inexperienced Hydrogen

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

The EV battery charging expertise of 9 years in the past was not what it’s right this moment. Neither was battery-swapping expertise, for that matter. The “Gen1” autos of the unique Formulation E got here in similar 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. With a purpose to recharge the batteries in off-grid places alongside the course, Excessive E featured charging stations powered by hydrogen gas 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 gas cells was produced from water by electrolysis with the ability supplied by on-site photo voltaic panels, eliminating the necessity for a grid connection, and pushing fossil vitality out of the hydrogen provide chain as properly.

Inexperienced Hydrogen In The Highlight

With Excessive H, Agag has pushed inexperienced hydrogen entrance and heart, a lot in order that the brand new sequence shouldn’t be an addition to Excessive E. As an alternative, it’s described as a rebrand of Excessive E right into a “new, extra environmentally pleasant racing format.”

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

“The evolution from Excessive E to Excessive H is likely one of the most thrilling developments in motorsport and sustainable expertise I’ve ever been a part of,” Agag defined in a press assertion.

“This evolution guarantees not solely sooner and extra intense racing, but additionally a major step ahead in exploring hydrogen as a sustainable and highly effective vitality supply,” Agag enthuses.

Agag explains that Excessive E was aimed toward showcasing and motivating planet-saving mobility improvements. With inexperienced hydrogen, the chance for broader purposes has emerged. “Now, with Excessive H, we’re taking that mission to a brand new degree by embracing hydrogen, the magic molecule in the way forward for inexperienced energy,” he provides.

“The core values stay unchanged: we’re nonetheless devoted to making a pioneering motorsport sequence that emphasises [sic] sustainability, gender equality, and thrilling competitors,” Agag emphasizes.

No matter Occurred To “Gasoline Cell Autos Are Bull—-?”

If all this speak of thrillingness appears a bit of excessive, contemplate that one other excessive profile persona within the electrical automobile subject has been trash-talking gas cell autos for years (right here’s one other instance). Because of this, gas cells have some catching as much as do within the public relations division.

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

As for hydrogen itself, the “magic molecule” has many different makes use of in industrialized economies apart from gas cell autos. The record 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 gas 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. At the moment, a lot of the exercise round inexperienced hydrogen entails water electrolysis, although natural sources like wastewater and biogas additionally rising (see heaps extra hydrogen information right here).

 “Hydrogen’s potential is immense. It’s not nearly e-mobility; it’s about creating inexperienced energy options that may be utilized anyplace, from distant places to bustling cities,” Agag explains.

Promoting The Inexperienced Hydrogen Dream

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

“By being the primary motorsport championship powered by inexperienced hydrogen, we’re setting a brand new normal and offering a novel platform for vitality 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 costlier than standard hydrogen. The US Division of Power, for instance, remains to be working off a benchmark of $5.00 per kilogram for inexperienced hydrogen, in the direction of a objective 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, Europe, and India. A number of the well-known manufacturers among the many varied motorsports are already dipping their toes within the hydrogen gas cell pool in a single type or one other, with Porsche and Toyota among the many examples.

Excessive H may also benefit from a rising inexperienced hydrogen provide chain involving each startups and legacy stakeholders, like Siemens and Geopura, which 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 ladies drivers.

“We’ve seen unbelievable progress in closing the efficiency hole between female and male drivers, resulting in a number of the most enjoyable and aggressive racing,” Agag explains.

“It will proceed to be an indicator of Excessive H, alongside our dedication to innovation and sustainability,” he provides.

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

Comply with me @tinamcasey on Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Photograph (cropped): The Excessive H racing automotive Pioneer 25 runs on a gas cell powered by inexperienced hydrogen (courtesy of Excessive E).