
Bright future: Aurora Media Worldwide on the new hydrogen-powered era of Extreme H 2025 By Heather McLean
Friday, October 4, 2024 - 09:46
Print This Story
Extreme E's days are truly numbered, as it is about to be replaced in 2025 by Extreme H, which will take the series forwards into the new era of hydrogen-powered racing
Extreme E has set the pace over recent years as the crazy electric rally series with major sustainability goals. However, Extreme E's days are truly numbered, as it is about to be replaced in 2025 by Extreme H, which will take the series forwards into the new era of hydrogen-powered racing.
At the Hydro X Prix in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland on 13 to 14 July, tests on the series' hydrogen race car, the Pioneer 25, were carried out publicly on a championship course for the first time.
This is going to be the only gas hydrogen sport out there for the foreseeable future. I think there's a two or three year or even four year monopoly [for Extreme H] while other people eventually or continue to go racing with liquid hydrogen
The Pioneer 25 car is designed to demonstrate the viability and performance capabilities of hydrogen fuel cells, setting a new standard for eco-friendly motorsport. It is designed and manufactured by Spark Racing Technology and equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell from Symbio, Extreme H's Official Fuel Cell Provider, and has undergone an intensive testing programme equivalent to three seasons of racing in readiness for its debut campaign. Symbio will provide a 75kW hydrogen fuel cell replacing the battery as the principal energy source. The hydrogen fuel cell powers the battery pack that is produced and supported trackside by Fortescue Zero.
The cunning plan is that Extreme H will take over from Extreme E. Explains Matthew Beal, director of broadcast at host broadcaster Aurora Media Worldwide: The roadmap is we finish season four of Extreme E, and that marks the end of the Extreme E era. Then the whole thing pivots to Extreme H with teams from Extreme E coming and going mostly coming! I think we'll see expansion in the grid.
Bright future
In March this year Extreme E revealed that it delivered significant audience growth in 2023, rising to a global audience of more than 144 million viewers, according to the latest analytics report on the series by YouGov. The increase in the series' audience figures stems from a thrilling third season, where a record five teams competed for the 2023 Extreme E championship at the final event. The series' global audience grew by 6% from 2022, where the viewership stood at 135 million.
Read more: Into the great unknown: Extreme H sliding smoothly into more data and telemetry in broadcast for the new era of hydrogen racing
Going forwards, Beal says, we had basically around a hundred million viewers the first season and last season, 150 million viewers across the broadcast, so a 50% increase over three years. The goal is to go 50% again over a shorter timeframe .
He adds: That's a big ambitious step to go again, but I think it's one everyone's confident in because we think we've got a great product, we think we've got authenticity and now equity in the market, particularly around the gender equality. And I think the market is moving to a position where the demand for female-led sports is huge, and only going in one direction.
So if we put those things together, we think we've got a really bright future and want to go again. The name of the game as ever in the competitive market is entertainment, and sports great for that, but we've got to work really hard to make sure our entertainment proposition is more compelling than the next, and we think we've got some great assets to do that; seriously brilliant racing, brilliant athletes, great locations, and a great story to partner, the whole thing. Extreme H is ambitious in their viewership and what they're aiming for, but I think they've got everything at their disposal to achieve it.
Hydrogen is the key for much of what will be seen on screen in 2025 for Extreme H, as this power is set to have a far greater reach into everyday life
Technology storytelling
Building that viewership further is hydrogen itself. Hydrogen is the key for much of what will be seen on screen in 2025 for Extreme H, as this power is set to have a far greater reach into everyday life. In the UK, new blast furnaces in the works cannot be powered by electricity off the grid as there is not enough to spare, and with oil and nuclear power unlikely contenders, hydrogen is set to step up to the mark. Therefore the work being carried out and demonstrated on the track at Extreme H will showcase the power source, and will attract the attention and imagination of a much wider base of viewers than simply sports fans.
Notes Beal: The technology story is going to get bigger inside Extreme H. All these things [we see off the track] will play into the broadcast and the graphics and the data, and storytelling.
As to the power, these vehicles will not be any old hydrogen-powered cars. They will be gas hydrogen-powered cars. States Beal: This is going to be the only gas hydrogen sport out there for the foreseeable future. I think there's a two or three year or even four year monopoly [for Extreme H] while other people eventually or continue to go racing with liquid hydrogen.
The reason that's super important is it's probably gas hydrogen where we're going to see as a [mainstream] mobility solution, so if you go and purchase a [hydrogen-powered] car, it'll be a gas model. Therefore the relevance of Extreme H to the consumer and to OEMs and manufacturers is quite high, because it's the next turn of the mobility solution and it's realistically where I think there's a lot of m
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...