Prince of Monaco Tests Hydrogen Racing Car Pioneer 25 Ahead of 2025 Hydrogen Racing Championship
Prince Albert II of Monaco officially opened the third Hydrogen Forum by driving the Pioneer 25, a hydrogen-powered race car developed by Extreme H, which is set to launch the world's first fully hydrogen-powered motorsport championship in 2025, paving the way for a new era of high-performance, low-impact racing.
‘After training with British racer Catie Munnings, the Prince got behind the wheel of a single-seater car and drove through the streets of the Principality, connecting Place du Palais with the Monte Carlo district. The short trip made it possible to test the performance of this racing car, which combines technological innovation with respect for the environment,’ the Prince of Monaco said in a statement on his official social media page.
‘Hydrogen is an important pathway to a sustainable future, providing concrete solutions to reduce emissions in a wide range of sectors,’ said Prince Albert II, a supporter of renewable energy.
‘I was delighted to be one of the first to try out this remarkable race car here in Monaco, a country that is proud to host the most famous Formula 1 and Formula E races. As Extreme H demonstrates, innovation in motorsport can be a driving force for global progress, inspiring action far beyond the race track,’ he added.
The Pioneer 25 is a 550 horsepower laboratory experiment equipped with a 75 kW hydrogen fuel cell that delivers impressive performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. According to the developers, the car does not emit a single particle of CO₂.
It can scale gradients of 130%, ideal for difficult mountain climbs, or a mild 13% in Monaco. The car weighs 2200 kg (2.2 tonnes).
The fuel cells power the battery pack that powers the electric motors, and the entire system has been tested to the equivalent of three racing seasons - approximately 2000 hours.
