Don't worry, the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing car has plenty of 'grunt'

When ‘eco-friendly’ cars first appeared on the scene, they were a bit rubbish. Few ran out to buy the over-priced, under-powered vehicles on offer. There was, to channel our inner Jeremy Clarkson, a decided lack of ‘grunt’.

However, coming soon to a disused opencast coal mine near you – if you happen to be near Glenmuckloch near Cumnock – are cars with a whole lot of ‘grunt’, but only water coming out of their exhausts. Unveiled yesterday, the Pioneer 25, is the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing car and, according to the designers, it’s faster and more furious than its electric equivalents.

Whether hydrogen or electricity ultimately wins the race remains to be seen, but the spirit of innovation that is driving the development of new forms of transport, energy and other technologies is to be celebrated, not resisted. We live in truly exciting times.

The hydrogen-powered Pioneer 25 will be the official competition vehicle for the new Extreme H international racing series (Picture: Matt Ben Stone/Extreme H)

The first cars, such as the “crude” vehicle developed by British inventor Robert Anderson in 1832, were electric, but they were surpassed by the combustion engine. Now the wheels of change are moving on. But, don’t worry, that ‘grunt’ is coming with us.