Can motorsport help fast-track the hydrogen economy? And what does it take to build the world’s first hydrogen-powered off-road racing series from the ground up?

In this episode of The Future of Sustainability podcast, host Michael Hanf speaks with Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen-powered motorsport championship, launching in 2025. Building on the success of Extreme E and Formula E, Extreme H is more than a race. It is a testbed for innovation, a global media platform, and a bold experiment in sustainable mobility.

Together, we explore how motorsport can become a powerful engine of change in the energy transition, accelerating innovation in hydrogen fuel cells, logistics, and storage systems. Russell, a pioneer at the intersection of sport and purpose, shares how Extreme H is designed to deliver real-world impact far beyond the racetrack.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔹 Why hydrogen is a critical component in the clean mobility mix

🔹 How Extreme H is built to validate hydrogen at every level, from fuel cells and safety to infrastructure and public perception

🔹 The technical challenges of racing hydrogen vehicles in extreme environments

🔹 How collaboration with automakers, energy companies, and regulators enables innovation

🔹 Why equality, inclusion, and storytelling are integral to the championship’s broader sustainability agenda

🔹 How Extreme H uses media and short-format racing to engage new generations and global audiences

🔹 The long-term vision for hydrogen adoption in sectors beyond cars, including aviation and shipping

Russell also discusses the unique role of motorsport in compressing innovation cycles and explains why the series is structured to allow OEMs like Toyota, Hyundai, and General Motors to test and showcase their hydrogen technologies. By creating an open but focused platform centred on hydrogen innovation, Extreme H aims to deliver both return on investment for manufacturers and inspiration for millions of fans.

This is not just about sport. It is about creating the conditions for systemic change in how we think about performance, energy, and the future of transportation.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Extreme H is reimagining racing as a tool for sustainable transformation.

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