(Motorsports news) Extreme E has announced that it is teaming up once again with AFC Energy for Season 2, where it will be using it’s zero-emission fuel cell and pioneering hydrogen power generation technology.
In a world-first, Extreme E is the first ever event organiser to utilise hydrogen fuel cell generators for power generation, and the decision supports Extreme E’s goal of being sustainable and creating minimal local impact on the environments in which it races. This innovative solution from AFC Energy offers a completely sustainable fuel production process. The system uses hydrogen (produced from water and sun) to generate power which is then used across all the ODYSSEY 21 E-SUVs on the grid.
AFC Energy’s zero-emission, hydrogen power generator was successfully deployed at all five races in the inaugural 2021 season to generate power for the Championship’s ODYSSEY 21s in a variety of harsh operating conditions ranging from Saudi Arabia to Greenland.
The new contract ensures the zero-emission fuel cell system will once again be used to generate power for all Extreme E vehicles at each of the five X Prix in the 2022 season, which will include races in South America for the first time, with the only by-product being water for utilisation elsewhere on site across the campaign.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Working with AFC Energy has enabled Extreme E to be the world's first sporting event to use zero emission power generators. From the outset, our vision of using battery powered race cars could only be truly fulfilled if we could generate power for them in a completely sustainable way. AFC Energy has enabled us to do that, and we are delighted to be using their technology again for the 2022 season.
“We are setting the standard for clean fuel provision in any situation – we have proved it can be done and hope that our example will now be followed by other sporting events.”
Adam Bond, CEO of AFC Energy, said: “We are delighted to be extending our collaboration with Extreme E into 2022. The inaugural race season enabled us to demonstrate the possibilities of AFC Energy's zero-emission power generators while operating in high pressure, high-profile and extreme environments. This world first showed what can already be achieved in moving the world to zero-emission technologies.
“Last year the use of our fuel cell by Extreme E prevented a significant amount of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere. In 2022, at each race we expect to provide enough clean energy to power over 1,000 U.K. homes. This contract is just one in a strong pipeline of system sales and lease opportunities which will underpin future revenue growth as we seek to capitalise on our leading position to displace diesel generators within the next decade.”
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