Llandrindod Wells, UK - March 16, 2016 - The Riversimple Rasa Prototype is very light - the engineering prototype weighs 580 kg. This first car is a two seater 'network electric' car, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The engineering prototype has clocked over 60mph and has been weaving neatly through the traffic in London, as well as gliding down the country lanes of Powys. The chassis is a carbon fibre monocoque made from very lightweight but extremely stiff carbon fibre composites. The monocoque chassis weighs less than 40kg.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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Llandrindod Wells, UK – March 19, 2016
We began with a hydrogen fuel cell, a manifesto for sustainable design and a blank sheet of paper.
Every aspect of the Rasa has been created and interrogated for simplicity, efficiency, lightness, strength, affordability, safety and sustainability.
And the name Rasa is a nod to that blank sheet of paper – Tabula Rasa means ‘Clean slate’ in Latin.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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This first car is a two seater ‘network electric’ car, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The engineering prototype has clocked over 60mph and has been weaving neatly through the traffic in London, as well as gliding down the country lanes of Powys.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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The chassis is a carbon fibre monocoque made from very lightweight but extremely stiff carbon fibre composites.
The monocoque chassis weighs less than 40kg.
Our car is very light – the engineering prototype weighs 580 kg.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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It embodies various key features:
• Four electric motors, one in each wheel
• Motors as brakes – recovering over 50% of kinetic energy when braking
• Super-capacitors to store this energy and provide most of the power for acceleration
• A low powered hydrogen fuel cell (8.5 kW)
• A body made of lightweight composites
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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It’s the synthesis of all these technologies that delivers the groundbreaking efficiency and range, many times better than inserting fuel cells into conventional, heavy, vehicles.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype - schema
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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The production prototype should do c.250 mpg (equivalent), with a range of 300 miles.
Emissions are zero at tailpipe and c.40gCO2/km Well-to-Wheel – even if the hydrogen comes from natural gas.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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HOW DOES IT WORK?
The hydrogen passes through a Proton Exchange Membrane in the fuel cell where it combines with oxygen to form water and electricity.
The electricity then flows to the motors in each wheel.
These motors are small, lightweight and give the car 4 wheel drive.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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When the car brakes, the kinetic energy, that is normally lost in the form of heat, is captured as electricity.
As the car slows, this electricity floods into a bank of super-capacitors at the front of the car.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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Unlike a battery, these super-capacitors can take a huge charge very quickly, but they don’t store a lot of energy.
The energy they take in is sent back to the motors again and provides the energy to accelerate.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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The reason we are calling it a Network Electric car is that the energy is networked around the car. It can flow in any direction on any path apart from back into the fuel cell.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype – schema of four electric motors, one in each wheel.
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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Our innovative network design means that we only require a fuel cell big enough to provide cruising speed power, rather than acceleration.
We are getting more than 50% of the braking energy back, which is used to boost acceleration.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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It is the culmination of 15 years of development and it’s driving beautifully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Y0lFamuE8
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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The production prototype is designed by Chris Reitz, former design chief for the Fiat 500, and his team at their studio in Barcelona.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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With further funding, 20 cars will be ready for Beta test with customers later this year.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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If you are interested in investing, being part of that test, or would like a car when they come to market in 2018, let us know.
http://riversimple.com/keep-updated-on-our-progress-and-help-us-shape-the-future/
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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Rasa for the 21st Century
By Fiona Clancy
Design, Sustainability
The car seats of Riversimple Rasa are a bit special.
They’re covered in a durable and luxurious PET fabric that looks like suede …
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype - intro
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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… this high quality material has been manufactured from recycled plastic bottles.
It’s just the kind of product choice that reflects our commitment to a supply chain fit for the 21st Century.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple / Anthony Dawton |
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But this isn’t just about recycling …
The Circular Economy
Ellen Macarthur first hit the headlines in 2001 when she sailed a racing yacht single-handedly around the world at just 24 years of age.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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Ellen says that sailing has given her a very real understanding of what it means to rely on a finite supply of resources, as on the boat food, water and fuel are inescapably linked to success or failure.
Since then, Ellen has become an ambassador for the Circular Economy, focused upon the big solutions that will conserve resources for the future.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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One major step is to design products that last.
It’s perfectly possible, but the problem is that durable products are less compatible with business models based upon selling and selling and selling.
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Dr. Stafford Lloyd on Hydrogen test rig
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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Dr. Stafford Lloyd joined Riversimple from Rolls Royce plc.
He tells a story about his previous workplace which required the installation of high quality showers to wash off corrosive substances in case of accident.
With high safety standards, such accidents were most unlikely and the showers were not expected to need replacing regularly.
The manufacturers decided to lease the showers.
They installed and carried out regular maintenance for a contractual fee … and business thrived.
In choosing to sell a service, the lasting quality of a product is translated into profit.
As Systems and Sustainability Engineer at Riversimple, Stafford is on a quest to ensure that every component part of the Riversimple supply chain is of long lasting quality.
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The Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple |
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A grant from Innovate UK supports his work in association with existing suppliers and specialists
Eco Design Centre Wales,
http://pdronline.co.uk/ecodesign
QSA ,
http://www.qsapartners.co.uk
KS Composites,
http://www.kscomposites.com
Swagelok,
http://bristol.swagelok.com/en
Mark Water Pumps
http://www.mwpl.eu
and together they are developing a new business tool.
This tool will be able to calculate the financial and environmental implications of sale-of-service for each supplier.
Participating companies will be involved in a pilot scheme, that will be run in conjunction with the customer trial of the Riversimple Rasa.
It could be a bit of a breakthrough for suppliers considering sale of service and we’ll keep you posted.
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Team of the Riversimple Rasa Prototype
Photo courtesy of Riversimple
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We’re always on the look out for talented individuals who want to help us change the world for the better, while helping to develop a cutting edge hydrogen powered car.
We are based in Llandrindod Wells, where the countryside is beautiful even when the weather is stormy.
If you’re interested in coming to meet us and joining the team, please email marie.faichney@riversimple.com
Source: Riversimple
http://riversimple.com
http://riversimple.com/the-blog/
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