What Is Riversimple’s Sustainable Mobility Project?
Riversimple is shaking up the world of personal transport with its pioneering approach to zero emission vehicles. Instead of relying on batteries, these cars run on hydrogen and emit nothing but water. Imagine refilling your car in just three minutes and hitting the road with the freedom to go anywhere, anytime, all while treading lightly on the planet. It’s a fresh take on mobility that’s all about flexibility, sustainability, and innovation.
The Main Benefit: Efficiency and Sustainability Combined
Here’s what makes Riversimple’s vehicles stand out:
- Refill time: Just 3 minutes — no long waits, no compromises on downtime.
- Weight: Only 655kg, which is 80kg lighter than the original Smart car, thanks to ultra-light carbon fibre materials.
- Drag coefficient: An impressively low 0.248, making it one of the most aerodynamic cars on the road (compare that to a Porsche 911’s 0.31!).
- Power use: At 60mph, the Rasa uses less than 10kW of power — that’s about the energy of three kitchen kettles.
- Emissions: Zero tailpipe emissions — just tiny droplets of water — and drastically reduced non-exhaust emissions thanks to lightweight design and regenerative braking.
Innovation at the Heart of Design
Riversimple’s technology isn’t just cutting-edge; it’s continuously refined for simplicity, efficiency, lightness, strength, affordability, safety, and sustainability. The Rasa, their flagship vehicle, is a marvel of engineering that recovers energy every time it brakes, using electric motors and supercapacitors. This regenerative braking means less wasted energy and a smoother, cleaner ride. Plus, by focusing on lightweight materials and aerodynamic design, the car needs far less hydrogen to cover the same distance as other fuel cell vehicles.
A Circular Business Model for a Circular Planet
Forget the traditional buy-and-forget car ownership model. Riversimple offers vehicles as a service, which means they keep responsibility for the car’s entire lifespan. This approach encourages building cars that last longer and are more robust, with high-quality components that save money and resources over time. When a vehicle reaches the end of its life, Riversimple recovers as many parts as possible to keep materials in circulation. It’s a smart, sustainable way to reduce waste and make eco-friendly mobility economically viable.
Materials Matter: Sustainable Choices
Riversimple goes beyond emissions by focusing on the materials used in their cars. Inside the Rasa, recycled materials are everywhere — upholstery made from PTFE recycled from bottles, door handles crafted from recycled fire hoses by sustainable fashion pioneers Elvis and Kresse. Unlike battery-powered cars, these hydrogen vehicles don’t rely on large amounts of critical metals like lithium or cobalt. Instead, they use a small amount of platinum, similar to what’s found in catalytic converters, which can be reused for future fuel cells. It’s a thoughtful approach to resource use and sustainability.
Project Impact: Aligning with Global Goals
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy — promoting hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure — advancing innovative vehicle technology and sustainable manufacturing.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities — offering zero emission fleet solutions for urban environments.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production — embracing circular business models and recycled materials.
- SDG 13: Climate Action — drastically reducing emissions from personal transport.
Looking Ahead: A New Era of Mobility
Riversimple isn’t just about making a car; it’s about rethinking how vehicles fit into society and the environment. Their plan includes building multiple small production plants close to the markets they serve, cutting down transport emissions and speeding up delivery times. The corporate governance model ensures that all stakeholders — from customers to the environment — have a real stake in the company’s success. It’s a holistic vision that balances innovation, sustainability, and community, aiming to make truly affordable, clean mobility a reality for everyone.
