This UK Company is Building an Ultra Light Weight Hydrogen-Powered Super Car

UK-based Riversimple is pioneering a new era of automotive design with its hydrogen-powered supercar, boasting a remarkable 400-mile range and an incredibly light weight of just 620 kg.

Pushing The Limits of Efficiency and Design

Riversimple’s supercar, currently in development, is set to challenge the traditional norms of vehicle weight and efficiency. It aims to address what Riversimple describes as the “crisis of vehicle weight” that has plagued the automotive industry. By leveraging advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology, the car will achieve a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h, all while using a small 29kW fuel cell. Remarkably, it will weigh approximately 1,000 kg less than Lotus Evija, an electric supercar that prides itself on having a low weight.

Efforts in Design

To achieve its ambitious goals, Riversimple has partnered with postgraduate students from Coventry University’s Automotive and Transport Design course. This collaboration involves a design competition where students’ proposals for the car’s interior and exterior will be evaluated by a panel that includes VW’s Head of Design, Andreas Mindt.

Environmental Impact

Riversimple’s founder and Chief Engineer Hugo Spowers emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in vehicle design. The average weight of new cars has increased by 25% over the past seven years, leading to increased resource consumption, higher embedded carbon in manufacturing, and greater energy usage. Additionally, heavier vehicles have contributed to more severe accidents and poorer air and water quality due to tire emissions. The transition to battery electrification has only exacerbated these issues.

“Our supercar represents a different approach to creating the ultimate driving experience,” Spowers stated. “We aim to move away from aggressive styling and excessive power, focusing instead on elegant simplicity and modernity.”

Advanced Technology and Performance

The supercar will utilize technology similar to Riversimple’s latest production fuel cell car, the Rasa. It features a lightweight carbon fiber chassis, four inboard electric motors, a hydrogen fuel cell generating 39hp, supercapacitors, and an 800V architecture. Despite its modest power output of 39bhp the car’s ultra-lightweight construction and aerodynamic design enable impressive performance metrics, including a 0-100mph acceleration in 6.4 seconds and a 100mph top speed.

Riversimple aims to produce only 10 to 20 units of this exclusive supercar, positioning it as a rare collectible. The car is designed to offer exceptional driving dynamics, range, and efficiency while being fun to drive.

Riversimple’s hydrogen-powered supercar is set to redefine what a sportscar can be in the 21st century.