River Simple launches hydrogen car with 'open source' design
Wed 17 June 2009
View all news
River Simple, the company led by Hugo Spowers and with backing from a member of the Porsche car making dynasty, has launched an innovative urban car for which the design specifications will be available to all potential developers. The original design, on which River Simple hopes manufacturers will improve, is a lightweight two-seater which runs on hydrogen via a fuel cell and has a range of 200 miles and top speed of 50mph.
River Simple's initiative, including the unveiling of the hydrogen car, took place at London's Somerset House at a launch event which was widely covered by the media. The launch was the culmination of many years work on the part of the River Simple team.
The company reckon the emissions of the current design are around 30g/km, reflecting a typical 'carbon cost' of making hydrogen, but this is already significantly below the lowest carbon model on the market today. The makers say the prospect of "green" hydrogen in the future, made with renewable energy, would shrink CO2 emissions even lower.
The car's efficiency does not come solely from its fuel source, it is a combination of high efficiency approaches in car design.
River Simple will make its designs available online so the cars can be built and improved locally. The company hopes to have vehicles in production by 2013. The cars will be leased with fuel and repair costs included, at an estimated £200 a month.
The company has a partnership arrangement with gas supply company BOC to install hydrogen stations for the cars in the city where the prototypes are launched.
Hugo Spowers, a former race car designer and a speaker at the recent LowCVP conference at City Hall, told The Independent newspaper that he has Oxford in mind, among other cities, for an initial project in which up to 50 vehicles would be leased to local customers.
Related Links
< Back to news list