[6] Extreme E began in 2018 as a project led by Formula E founder Alejandro Agag and former driver Gil de Ferran.

[12] In July 2019 a first prototype of the series vehicle, the Odyssey 21, was showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and in December 2019 the provisional calendar for the first season in 2021 was revealed, featuring races in Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Greenland and Brazil.

[20] The St Helena departed from Liverpool on 20 February 2021, carrying equipment and 9 cars for the first race in April and arrived in Jeddah on 14 March.

[21][22] The first season began with the Desert X-Prix in Saudi Arabia in April 2021 and ended in December in the United Kingdom.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic the calendar had to be modified during the season with two European rounds replacing the two planned events in South America.

[37][38] Prior to the 2022 season's opening race, Agag announced the creation of a similar off-road electric championship called Extreme H, featuring a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Spark Odyssey 21 car.

The Spark Odyssey 21 electric SUV was unveiled as the series' competition vehicle at Goodwood Festival of Speed on 5 July 2019.

[13] The vehicle is manufactured by Spark Racing Technology, the constructors of the Formula E cars, with a battery produced by Williams Advanced Engineering.

Guerlain Chicherit drove the vehicle during shakedown one day before the race start and Ken Block competed with it on the final stage between Haradh and Al-Qiddiya, finishing with the third fastest time in the car category.

[53] The series maintains a so called "legacy programme" which intends to provide support for social and environmental challenges at the racing locations.

[54] The RMS St Helena, a former Royal Mail Ship, serves as a "floating paddock" and headquarters for the series.

It is used to carry all equipment, including the cars, to the race locations (or nearest port) in order to reduce carbon emissions compared to air freight.

The St Helena also serves as a research vessel, carrying scientists and potentially holding conferences at the race locations.

[65] Aurora Media Worldwide and North One Television were selected as host broadcasters, producing live race coverage and a supporting documentary series, combining sport and scientific stories.

[66] Academy Award-winning filmmaker Fisher Stevens was hired as the series artistic director to produce the broadcasts.