The hydrogen fuel cell is about 50% efficient, double that of a petrol engine. The combination of this efficiency and the new, and much more efficient, architecture creates a vehicle which is more sustainable because it needs far less hydrogen energy.

Further fuel and emissions savings are gained because,unlike an internal combustion engine, the electric motor is not running when the car is stationary in traffic.

The Riversimple technology demonstrator uses a 6kW fuel cell (For comparison, Honda is using a 100kW fuel cell in its FCX Clarity model currently being trialled in California - admittedly in a four seat car).  In the Riversimple car, less hydrogen needs to be carried (and less held at the filling stations) and the cost of the fuel cell drops dramatically.

We have been working with Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies of Singapore, who have developed a highly efficient yet simple fuel cell system for our local car.  As the output required of the fuel cell is less than in most fuel cell prototypes, Horizon has been able to prioritise cost reduction in the development of the system.  This has been the focus of their research since they were founded and gives a natural synergy between their technology and our approach to commercialising hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.  Together we are pursuing a combined development programme on the next generation of fuel cell for our production prototype vehicle.