Riversimple to commence Beta testing of Rasa hydrogen car
Zero-emission vehicle uses four in-wheel electric motors and promises 250mpg and a 300-mile range; investors are invited to help get the first stage of open development rolling
British car maker Riversimple has announced that it's ready to commence the Beta-testing stage of development for its new hydrogen-powered Rasa and has asked investors to get involved to help kick-start the programme.
The company plans to hold a 12-month trial period during which members of the public will run a Rasa as their own car and help it to iron out any issues before it goes into production.
If funding meets the required amount, a run of 20 Riversimple Rasas could be on British roads later this year in selected areas where suitable infrastructure (such as a hydrogen filling station) is within reach. If this development period is successful, Riversimple plans to produce 3500 Rasas in 2018, offered to drivers through a leasing scheme.
Autocar met Riversimple's founder earlier this year. Read on to find out more.
The two-seat Rasa produces nothing but water from its tailpipe and is capable of an estimated 250mpg and a 300-mile range from just 1.5kg of hydrogen.
The Rasa uses an 8.5kW fuel-cell (equivalent to about 11bhp), which combines hydrogen with oxygen to form water and electricity. The electricity powers four motors that drive each of the car's wheels, with a combined output of about 443lb ft of torque.
Each of the car's electric motors works as a generator when the brakes are applied and can recover as much as 70% of kinetic energy during heavy braking. Under normal applications, around 50% is recovered.
The whole drivetrain has just 18 moving parts and is capable of accelerating the car to 60mph in a respectable 10sec. Top speed is limited to 60mph, but Riversimple says the car can comfortably cruise at this speed for long periods.
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The Rasa weighs just 580kg thanks to its use of a carbon-composite monocoque and aluminium subframes. Weight has been minimised in every avenue, with the monocoque weighing 39kg, the doors weighing 8kg and the fuel-cell itself weighing 19kg. Sustainably sourced carbonfibre-reinforced plastic and glassfibre-reinforced polymer body panels add minimal mass on top.
Riversimple founder Hugo Spowers says Colin Chapman and his philosophy for light weight Lotus sports cars served as an inspiration.
Spowers' background involves racing – his previous ventures include founding and running a business that designed and built racing cars – but environmental concerns spurred a move into creating sustainable cars. The Rasa has, therefore, been built with minimal resource usage in mind.
In total, the Rasa's well-to-wheel CO2 output (how much CO2 has been produced from the model's conception to the end of its useful life) equates to about 40g/km. But with rapidly improving drivetrains and refined production methods, Riversimple expects to cut that number in half in the coming years.
Autocar sampled the Rasa from the passenger seat. While our limited time in the car revealed little about its performance, the overall experience was akin to that of a small British sports car. With just two gears – forward and reverse – it's surprisingly simple to operate, and it pulled and sounded like a typical electric car.
It rode like something suited to track work – that's to say it was rather harsh over bumps and manhole covers - but Spowers confirmed that the car's suspension settings were still under development. He said the finished product would be much more forgiving.
The cabin is surprisingly pleasant; although insulation from the outside world is thin, the low seats, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and clutter-free dash give the interior a sports car feel - no doubt influenced by Spowers' motorsport background.
As interesting as the Rasa is, however, it's Riversimple's business plan that really sets it apart from other alternatively powered vehicles.
Riversimple will soon produce a run of 20 trial Rasas to be used by individuals later this year in what it calls a beta trial. It believes opening the development phase to people outside the business will help it increase the rate of improvement.
Riversimple will also open source all its findings and development, so other companies can then work to develop the technology. Spowers' thinking is that having thousands of eyes working on a piece of technology is far better than just a small team. He's confident Riversimple's place as development leader will ensure the company's survival, even if its technology is used elsewhere.
After the beta trial, a full production run of 3500 vehicles is planned for 2018. These cars will be sold under a contract where buyers rent the right to use the vehicle. Although costs are unconfirmed, Riversimple says prices will be reasonable, and will include fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.
"Rather than trying to make money from our customers in the first few years of ownership, our business plan means we make more money by giving the customer the most affordable service we can," explains Spowers. "If the car is cheap to build, efficient and reliable, we make more money and the customer is happier. All parties are working towards a common goal."
Spowers says this plan contrasts with those of many major car manufacturers, which want customers to buy more spare parts and to trade their cars in at regular intervals. Riversimple, on the other hand, wants its cars to last at least 15 years.
The first cars will be offered to individuals located in a few currently undisclosed UK cities, where hydrogen filling stations will be built. This plan ensures that a large enough demand will be generated to justify the expense of building a station. It should then spur on the building of more infrastructure in other areas.
In the future, Riversimple wants to combine its rental scheme with car sharing, as it believes the concept will one day become a much more economically and environmentally sustainable source of private transport.
The firm, which is based in Llandrindod, Wales, has recently secured €2 million (£1.6m) worth of funding from the EU. It was involved in Morgan's hydrogen LIFEcar project of 2008, and features a team of industry experts with backgrounds in Formula 1 and the aerospace industry along with multinational manufacturers.
A few unanswered points
What material are the glass sections? What about air bags? What about crash testing results if any have been undertaken. I fear the side impact would fail due to the extreme lightweight sections, but I could be wrong, the man knows about F1 and those things impact brilliantly
what's life without imagination
Target audience?
It's not a urban car (no suspension, low slung). It's not an OAPmobile (too low). Its not a long distance motorway car (60mph). Not a taxi (2 seats). Local commute vehicle perhaps?
PS: the lease idea is interesting. Does the leasee get the government cashback on no-emission vehicles?
johnfaganwilliams
Well, fine but
What would you actually do with it? In the Daily Mail they quote a lease cost of £500 a month. Who on earth is going to pay that? There appears to be no luggage space so that's the run to Tesco ruled out. Golf clubs on a roof rack - nope. Very scary on a motorway at max 60 mph down with the truckers - I don't think anyone would do that twice. You can't fill up anywhere.
It looks nicely made in these pix but surely it would be more sensible to say that it's a first step to developing something usable in the future. Or as a demonstration of their expertise that they would like to sell to other people with existing budgets/capacity like Morgan. At the moment it looks to me like more of my taxes wasted by the EU
And I'm always worried about people who claim they were involved in motor-racing - code for being petrol heads really - but don't tell you which company. Maybe he ran Austin A90s in banger-racing?
OU Dangerous Sports Club
Spowers was a founder member. Does that reassure you?
just seen it on Skynews
Sorry, still don't get it. Mr Spowers spoke about revolutionising the motor industry but I can't see any area where he is ahead of Toyota and Hyundai - and many, many where he is miles behind. I'm all for creative genius and love entrepreneurs - but claims have to be realistic and, in my mind anyway, his just aren't. Fair play to him for getting so much publicity though - even an Autocar staffer tipped up with an air of mild encouragement. Hope to be proved wrong and to be driving my Rasa with pride in 2020.
winniethewoo
£500 a month isn't bad as it
£500 a month isn't bad as it includes fuel, maintenance and insurance. I spend about £200 / £250 a month on a bog standard Golf for that, so for me the car would be effectively £300 a month, even less if for someone doing hypermiles. They might even reclaim that £500 in fuel alone. Mind you, you can lease a Tesla Model S for that much with a £15k downpayment.
Joke right. £500 and the rest
"...estimated 250mpg and a 300-mile range from just 1.5kg..." In Europe last Summer 1.5kg of hydrogen would be £10.00 which equals 2.2 gallons or 136mpg, for a 580kg 2 seater car that's not great especially as it's using their figures not Government ones. The bigger 5 seater Leaf will do 500 miles for same money.
"Spowers says this plan contrasts with that of many major car manufacturers, which want customers to buy more spare parts and to trade their cars in at regular intervals." - nope not many people spend alot on spare parts and trade regularly.
What type of customer would spend £500 a month, it'll be way more, on a limited slow 2 seater. Think about that's £300 after you deduct for fuel, £3600 a year, £36,000 after 10 years at which point the car would be worth nothing. So if each car costs £35,000 to make (minimum) then Riversimple make £1,000 a year over 10 years - not a sustainable business plan.
Riverside should have made a plug-in to give themselves a chance.
topsecret456987
Sorry this is just wrong. A
Sorry this is just wrong. A small car for use in our busy cities with narrow streets. Only two seats, which is not adequate for carrying one person around a city. Only 2 wheel drive, thus will not be able to cope with the tarmac rods in the UK. Some plonker has designed a vehicle fit for purpose here and not one based on what people want. Oh and it is really light so it must be dangerous - not like a big car which are always safer as they keep occupants safer but kill anyone they hit!
Think they forgot something
Airbags.
LP in Brighton
Like the concept, like the efficiency
And in a way, this car might be fun to own, small, different, pioneering and relatively affordable. But it has to compete with hugely developed, ultra safe existing cars which are incredibly cheap to buy and run thanks to the benefit of very large scale production and current low fuel costs. Riverside's business plan might be a bit shaky, but the company deserves success for this interesting venture.