MissionH24 is just back from Madrid, where its representatives from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and H24Project continued their venture to promote hydrogen as a solution for transport at Global Mobility Call, a major international event on sustainable mobility. Displayed at the congress entrance from 24 to 26 October, the LMPH2G electric-hydrogen prototype attracted its fair share of attention. Meanwhile, ACO President Pierre Fillon gave a presentation on the crucial role that the Endurance discipline is playing in the move towards zero-carbon mobility.
The sleek lines of the LMPH2G were the subject of much admiration and curiosity during the three-day congress in the Spanish capital. True to the DNA of the ACO, founded in 1906 and organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923, the electric-hydrogen prototype is breaking new ground in motorsport, proving the potential of hydrogen in mobility for all. In today’s world, freedom of movement cannot be dissociated with our duty to respect our environment.
Endurance racing is determined to lead the way to zero-carbon mobility. Since 2018, when the MissionH24 project was launched, the discipline has been promoting zero-carbon racing. In 2026, the 24 Hours of Le Mans will comprise a class for hydrogen-powered cars and the prospect is a source of inspiration for numerous carmakers.
Thanks to the LMPH2G, the intentions of MissionH24 were clearly visible to visitors at Madrid’s Ifema over the past few days. Many admirers are pioneers in their own right, among them explorer and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard, who enjoyed a ride in the LMPH2G at Le Mans in the early days of the project. Other important visitors were Ifema Madrid president José Vicente de los Mozos, FIA senate president Carmelo Sanz de Barros, José Ignacio Lijarcio, who came with several other representatives of the Spanish road safety foundation, Ignacio Varela of the Guardia Civile, José Manuel Escoin Cano, secretary general of the Spanish chamber of commerce in France, Director-General for Traffic Pere Navarro, as well as representatives of project partners TotalEnergies, Michelin, Symbio, Plastic Omnium, Richard Mille, Dietsmann and Essilor.
In his address to the congress on Wednesday, Pierre Fillon emphasised that the ACO’s strategy is part of a wider collaborative effort: The ACO is promoting hydrogen in endurance racing because it suits our race format. But trains, trucks and buses can all run efficiently and effectively on hydrogen. Several other forms of transport could follow suit.
That said, we are not claiming that hydrogen is THE solution. I am often told that it will be very difficult for hydrogen to become the solution for the future.
Of course, hydrogen is not THE solution – it is ONE of the solutions. Today, there are many forms of mobility for very different purposes. And the number of vehicles is much greater than it was sixty years ago. We shall have to rethink how we travel and, above all, how we manage our energy resources. There will be more than one solution. That’s the situation and, in a way, it’s more reassuring than relying on just one form of energy. We owe our energies the same consideration and respect as we owe our environment. Engineers and research scientists are working with determination and conviction on a multitude of solutions.
I must say, however, that energy transition is everyone’s business. We cannot rely solely on research, science and technology. There must be collective awareness of the situation. Teamwork is necessary for a successful transition, to maintain our freedom of movement. With less pressure on the planet.
MissionH24 is one of the components of the teamwork led by all the key players in mobility gathered here.