Molly Taylor Drives the Extreme H Hydrogen Race Car in Final Test
As motorsport pushes toward a more sustainable future, the FIA’s Extreme E series is making headlines with the upcoming launch of Extreme H, the world’s first off-road hydrogen racing series.
Leading the charge is our very own Quad Lock ambassador, rally driver, former Extreme E Champion, and current E.ON Next Veloce Racing driver Molly Taylor, who recently completed the final full-power test of the new Extreme H vehicle in the south of France.
As one of the first drivers to get behind the wheel of this next-generation hydrogen racer, Molly is helping shape the future of motorsport from the ground up. We caught up with Molly by sending through a few questions, covering everything from her first impressions behind the wheel to the potential of hydrogen technology to redefine off-road racing.
Q&A With Molly Taylor: Behind the Wheel of the Extreme H
What was your first reaction when you saw the new Extreme H car in person?
It looks like it’s arrived from another planet! We got a little look around the car in Scotland last year, but this was my first chance to get behind the wheel. It’s cool to have something designed specifically for its purpose, and it means business. The scale of the car is also huge, bigger than what you imagine in pictures.
How does driving the hydrogen-powered car compare to the current ODYSSEY 21 Electric SUV you race in Extreme E?
There are many familiarities jumping across from the XE car, but also lots of differences. Firstly in the XH car you are sitting right in the middle of the car, which was new for me, but you instantly feel at home. They have made improvements to the chassis and suspension, so there is more potential in the car’s capabilities, especially in the rougher conditions. With the hydrogen fuel cells and extra protection, the car is about 600kg heavier, so you also notice the difference in weight, which you have to re-calibrate to. Overall, the car is really enjoyable to drive.
From a performance perspective, did anything about the car's handling, speed, or response surprise you?
You can lean on the car more laterally at higher speeds, so I would say the XH car is a bit more “car-like” in its behaviour. Just a really big car!
What are some of the biggest technical differences you noticed between a petrol, battery-electric and a hydrogen-powered race car?
What’s really cool about the electric and electric/hybrid XE & XH cars are the options you have in the calibrations of power delivery and delivery between the two motors. There’s a whole new world of possibilities. There is a lot of potential there but also really important to have good engineers to get the most out of the system and the motors aren't joined with a mechanical prop shaft. I suppose it's a new age version of the active centre diffs we have in the WRX rally cars. It's a really fun challenge to get stuck into.
Were there any challenges or unexpected moments during testing?
The crew have done an incredible job with this project and it was really cool to see it all at work. As with any new car, there are always things to validate, improve and tweak during these kinds of tests, but I would say it was a really productive and positive two days.
How do you see hydrogen changing the future of off-road motorsport?
I think what is so exciting about this project is that it will be the first global motorsport hydrogen series. Just like XE, I think there are two parts to it, one in developing the tech and second, showing motorsport fans how motorsport can use its incredible platform to help build a more sustainable future. I don’t think there is a single answer; it definitely involves a mix of technologies and this is the latest tech that we get to explore and see where it leads us.
What role do you think drivers will play in pushing forward sustainable innovation in racing?
I think there is a huge opportunity to not only be part of the development of new technologies, but to engage the wider audience on the journey. We have an incredible platform that we can use to showcase not only exciting racing, but how that in itself can have a much broader impact. To be part of that is pretty exciting.
What motivates you to be involved in projects that push the boundaries of innovation, like Extreme H?
I think it adds a larger purpose to what we do. To be able to take what you love and see how that can help deliver change and progress is very motivating in itself. At the end of the day, we all want to win, but knowing that that pursuit can move the whole industry forward is pretty cool. It has definitely influenced my perception on what is possible.
Whether you're on the road or off the grid, how does Quad Lock help you stay connected and organised during busy race weeks?
I rely on Quadlock every day! Being on the road so much, jumping in and out of hire cars, planes and training in new locations, the versatility of the different mounts means I can take that day to day convenience easily with me everywhere. At the track, I use my phone a lot to review footage on the fly, so the mag ring stand is something I can’t be without!
Any message to fans excited about the launch of the Extreme H series in 2025?
The support has been incredible, and coming off the back of our success in 2024, we are really excited to hit the ground running. So a huge thanks to everyone who is behind us on this transition, and particularly all the Aussie fans. To be on the other side of the world and feeling all the local support is a huge boost!
As motorsport moves toward a more sustainable future, we’re proud to see Molly Taylor at the forefront. Her role in the Extreme H testing phase embodies the values we champion at Quad Lock, and we are lucky to have her as a part of the Quad Lock family.
With the Extreme H championship set to launch in 2025, a new era of off-road racing is about to begin, powered by hydrogen.
Read more about it here: https://www.fiaextremeh.com/news/1360_Its-a-proper-race-car-Extreme-H-Completes-Final-Test
