The streets of Monaco roared to life with an uncharacteristic hum on December 2nd as Prince Albert swapped his royal attire for racing gear, climbing into the cockpit of the cutting-edge Pioneer 25 hydrogen race car. Following some familiarisation training with British race driver Catie Munnings, the Prince took the wheel. As part of the Monaco Hydrogen Alliance Forum, the Prince’s drive symbolized a powerful commitment to clean energy innovation, pairing Monaco’s racing heritage with the transformative potential of hydrogen technology.
This isn’t just any vehicle. The Pioneer 25, a sleek, high-performance machine developed for the upcoming Extreme H championship, represents a new chapter in motorsport. Combining the intensity of rally racing with the promise of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells, it’s designed for rugged off-road challenges while offering a glimpse of a sustainable future.
Prince Albert was more than impressed after taking the car for a spin through Monaco’s iconic streets.
“They are great sensations in fact,” he said. “It is true that it is a very wide, very imposing, very heavy vehicle. But you don’t feel it as the acceleration progresses. There are sensations that are quite those of a lighter vehicle. But then there is this light sound that we find in electric and hydrogen vehicles. It is pleasant to drive. But the hardest part is getting in and out of it!”
Driving Change, Not Just Cars
The Prince’s passion for clean energy is no secret. As a longtime advocate for environmental causes, his involvement in the Extreme H project underscores his belief that hydrogen vehicles are vital to tomorrow’s mobility.
“It is really made for an extreme situation, for rallies, off-road. It is for a very specific use. But I believe a lot in the future of the hydrogen vehicle. It must be part, if you like, of the solutions—whether it is electric or hydrogen vehicles. It must be part of tomorrow’s mobility solutions.”
Monaco, with its electric mobility achievements and reputation as a motorsport hub, provided the ideal backdrop for this moment.
“You know what we’ve done in recent years on electric mobility; hydrogen is a consequence of all that,” Prince Albert added. “It’s great that it’s happening in Monaco.”
A Platform for Innovation
Extreme H, debuting in 2025, is the first hydrogen-powered motorsport championship and aims to showcase hydrogen technology not only for racing cars but also for everyday vehicles. Alejandro Agag, the founder and CEO of Extreme H, envisions the championship as a “laboratory” for hydrogen innovation.
“It will start next year, and it’s a platform, a laboratory to develop hydrogen technologies, first for racing cars, and then develop them on everyday cars,” he explained.
While Agag acknowledges the continued role of electric batteries and fossil fuels, he is optimistic about hydrogen’s potential.
“I think the future will be a mix of different solutions. I am also the founder of Formula E, the championship for electric battery cars. I think that the electric battery is a big part of the future. Fossils, gasoline, will still have to play a role for quite a few years. But hydrogen can also become part of a set of different solutions to make mobility cleaner.”
Showcasing Possibilities
Agag emphasized the importance of public awareness, noting, “One of the problems of new technologies is that sometimes people do not even know that they exist. So a day like today and having the Prince with us to help us to make known this technology, it is really important.”
And why Monaco? “Monaco, I always say it is the cathedral of motor racing. Of course, Formula 1, Formula E was here at the beginning of the championship. And it is the perfect place to start again a new hydrogen project,” Agag said.
Paving the Way
Extreme H’s Pioneer 25, developed with Spark Racing Technology and equipped with Symbio’s hydrogen fuel cell, exemplifies how motorsport can drive innovation. With its bespoke design and capability to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, the car marries high-performance engineering with environmental stewardship.
Prince Albert himself captured the spirit of the event, stating: “Hydrogen represents an important pathway to a sustainable future, offering solutions to reduce emissions across multiple sectors. It was my pleasure to be one of the first to try out this remarkable race car, here in Monaco, a country which is proud to host the most iconic racing across Formula One and Formula E. As Extreme H showcases, innovation in motorsport can be a driving force for global progress, inspiring action far beyond the racetrack.”
As the world accelerates toward a cleaner, greener future, Monaco once again finds itself at the forefront, reminding us all that innovation, when paired with tradition, can truly be revolutionary.
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