Drive a hydrogen-powered Dakar truck and chase the finish line under the stars. The route bears the scars of passage by countless trucks, yet the mission remains clear: push forward, complete the stages, and keep the vehicle alive through the night. The idea of a hydrogen Dakar entry is not new; last year Jordi Juvanteny and José Luis Criado demonstrated it, racking up 63 entries under FIA rules while testing the limits of alternative energy on this famed desert rally. They aim to repeat that feat in the upcoming edition, which begins on Friday, introducing a new Mission 1000 category for vehicles powered by non-traditional energy sources.
The plan from ASO, the Dakar organizer, is ambitious: by 2030, the vast Dakar caravan should largely run on energy sources that do not pollute. KH7 Epsilon, led by Juvanteny and Criado, became the first team to complete the Dakar powered by hydrogen fuel.
Two options
In the lead-up to the event, FIA briefly removed hydrogen entries from competition. “We came to Arabia expecting clearance because we had worked all year, but the rules for hydrogen racing had not yet been approved, and the team was not allowed to race,” Juvanteny later explained to this publication.
Participants faced two choices: strip out all hydrogen propulsion and race with diesel, or proceed in a way that did not disrupt other competitors by starting last and not assisting any other crews. Eliminating hydrogen after a year of development would have nullified the effort. They chose the second option and completed Dakar, describing the decision as challenging yet ultimately rewarding.
A post shared by KH7 Sport
“Hydrogen is not more dangerous”
The team navigated a harsh portion of the route where several trucks had overturned two days earlier. They themselves capsized during preparations, but they viewed it as proof that hydrogen does not carry inherently greater risk than other fuels. Safety remains paramount, with a constant emphasis on responsible handling of energy systems.
Last year, emissions dropped by roughly 40 to 50 percent compared with previous editions. Dakar is pursuing further reductions, aiming for up to 90 percent less fossil fuel usage through a mixed system combining hydrogen with HVO, a vegetable-oil-derived fuel from used cooking oil.
“The operating principle is similar to the original setup: the engine absorbs hydrogen, delivering cleaner combustion,” explains Xavi Ribas, the engineer who oversaw the modifications and drove the truck at the start. The bivouac dialogue is alive with excitement as the project advances, and there is a sense of nerves mixed with anticipation.
“This is what the planet wants from us”
“If Dakar does not move in this direction, it risks becoming irrelevant,” Juvanteny asserts. “There are tough challenges to solve, and the FIA has to craft reliable regulations. Yet time passes and progress is slow, and the world expects action.” The plan is clear: sustainable energy must be part of the rally’s DNA.
Jordi Juvanteny will compete for the 32nd time, while José Luis Criado will be the Spaniard with the most Dakar appearances, tallying 33 in total. The duo embodies a spirit of adventure: racing is at the core, but there is also a community of teams that view Dakar as a personal or collective challenge to run leaner, greener, and smarter. The aim remains constant: less diesel, more eco-friendly energy.
They have not left their trucks in the African desert since the nineties. From a single bold move to challenge the dunes, they now approach Dakar as a new frontier in a category dedicated to green vehicles, spanning a 1,000-kilometer course with 100-kilometer stages and a revised scoring framework. “This project feels renewed,” concludes Juvanteny, who has spent half a life negotiating dunes in the cockpit.