Shropshire Council in groundbreaking deal to test drive hydrogen fuel-cell cars
Shropshire Council has signed a groundbreaking deal that will see highly efficient hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars test-driven on the county’s roads in 2012/13 in a year-long pilot scheme.
Riversimple, the Ludlow-based sustainable car company, has made an agreement with Shropshire and Herefordshire councils for the authorities to help find both residents and organisations to test drive 30 vehicles, and locate and staff suitable refuelling points.
The counties are the second testing grounds to be announced by Riversimple, the other being the city of Leicester. It is hoped that if the trials are successful then the cars could eventually be made in the area.
Riversimple’s two seat vehicle has already been seen by thousands of people; the prototype is a centrepiece of the Science Museum in London’s Climate Science exhibition. With a body made of lightweight composites it weighs only 350kg, and thanks to novel design principles is able to do the equivalent of 300 miles per gallon.
The new car, which is being redesigned by a team headed by the design chief of the Fiat 500, will have a maximum cruising speed of 50mph and a range on one tank of hydrogen of at least 200 miles. Hydrogen produces nothing but a few drops of water from the exhaust, although to achieve true ‘zero emission’ credentials the fuel must be produced from renewable energy sources.
Customers will not buy the cars outright. They will pay a fixed monthly and all inclusive per mile charge to use the vehicles, similar to a mobile phone contract. The estimated monthly cost will be around £250 plus a mileage fee, including fuel. Customers will provide feedback both to improve the car and the driving experience.
Hugo Spowers, the founder of Riversimple who lives in Herefordshire, said:
“We are delighted that Herefordshire and Shropshire have been chosen as they are forward-thinking and environmentally aware rural counties situated on the Welsh borders, making them ideal areas in which to operate a pilot in parallel with our city trial in Leicester. Like it or not, the age of the fossil-fuelled car is nearing its end, and for places like Herefordshire and Shropshire to be pioneers as we look to the future is gratifying.”
Riversimple is in the process of second round fundraising, targeting £20 million from investors. The principal backer thus far, the family of Ernst Piech, a member of the Porsche dynasty, is committed to participating.
Councillor Keith Barrow, Shropshire Council’s leader, said:
“We are pleased to be working with Riversimple to progress this scheme which could revolutionise rural car use and ownership.
“We are excited that this innovative company has chosen to locate in Shropshire and we will be offering them every support we can.
“The initiative has the potential to boost the local economy by providing employment and environmental solutions. This project could see car clubs, pool cars and car share schemes become a practical solution to increasing rural transport costs – and Shropshire residents and businesses will be among the first to benefit.
“Shropshire offers the perfect place to test these cars and I hope that the trial will prove to be a great success.”
Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said:
“This is an exciting development for Ludlow. To have a ground-breaking hydrogen fuel cell project in Shropshire is another example of how innovators in renewable energy are choosing to operate from Ludlow.
“Shropshire has several motor component manufacturers supporting the motor industry across the West Midlands and it is encouraging to see the councils in Shropshire and Herefordshire collaborating to encourage this exciting technical innovation in fossil-fuel free transmission.”
Marches Local Enterprise Partnership chairman, Dr Geoffrey Davies, said:
“Riversimple is an extraordinarily innovative company, responding to today’s enviromental challenges with ground-breaking products. This initiative is an excellent example of the type of Marches business enterprise that can make a real difference to economic growth in the area.”
Councillor John Jarvis, the leader of Herefordshire Council, said:
“Hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles are not only potentially an environmentally clean and exciting form of transport, they could also play an important role in reducing rural isolation through their use in community car sharing schemes and the delivery of services on our local road network.
“One of the roles of the rural trial will be to assess the vehicles effectiveness in social, economic and sustainability terms. The small scale orientated ‘business model’ could also in time lead to car assembly and component manufacturing jobs in the county and the Marches area as a whole.”
For further information on the company please go to www.riversimple.com where there are photographs of the car.
