UK low-carbon vehicle specialist Riversimple unveils fuel cell city car

Riversimple Movement’s two-seat hydrogen fuel cell powered road car is set for trials later this year with production scheduled from 2018. Once on the market, Rasa will be offered to consumers through a sale of service model that involves the payment of a fixed monthly fee and mileage allowance in return for repairs, maintenance, insurance and fuel expenses.

Company founder Hugo Spowers told The Engineer that Rasa - developed with the help of a £2m grant from the Welsh government - is designed to maximise efficiency through a combination of lightweight materials and a simplified powertrain that contains 18 moving parts.

The four-wheel drive vehicle’s sub-40kg carbon composite chassis is said to absorb more energy per unit weight than steel in impact and its low profile has helped the prototype achieve 0.224cd in wind tunnel tests.

“It's unavoidable making it a bit sporty if you’re trying to make it efficient,” said Spowers.

When the car is moving, hydrogen passes through a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) inside the 11hp, 8.5kW fuel cell where it combines with oxygen to form water and electricity to drive electric motors mounted in each wheel, which each produce 170Nm of torque at 840rpm.