Innovation

Clean Slate

Riversimple began with a hydrogen fuel cell, a manifesto for sustainable design and a blank sheet of paper. Every aspect of our technology is continuously interrogated for simplicity, efficiency, lightness, strength, affordability, safety and sustainability. And the name of our first model, the Rasa is a nod to that blank sheet of paper – Tabula Rasa means ‘Clean slate’ in Latin.

The Rasa is an electric car powered by hydrogen rather than batteries and emits water. The hydrogen passes through a fuel cell, where it combines with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. This electricity flows to small, lightweight electric motors, one in each wheel, which give the car 4 wheel drive.

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The carbon fibre chassis of a Rasa weighs just over 70 kgs

Lightness

Lightness is key to efficiency and range. We have used a combination of technologies to keep the weight to a minimum and deliver the greatest fuel efficiency and superb environmental performance. Like a Formula One car, it is built with strong and lightweight composite materials rather than steel. Our production vehicles will be designed to deliver a range of 300 miles, which would last most people a week of local travelling before needing to refuel.

Aerodynamics

Through our obsession with vehicular efficiency the Rasa is one of the most aerodynamic cars on the road with a drag coefficient of just 0.248. For reference, a Porsche 911 has a drag coefficient of over 0.31. To achieve such a low drag figure we have used a number of efficiency concepts.

Wheel spats

We have covered the rear wheels of the Rasa to ensure that the airflow around the car is not interrupted. In traditional vehicles, wheels and wheel arches cause areas of pressure (trapped air) that are detrimental to the efficiency of a vehicle. By covering them air can flow down the side of the car without becoming trapped.

Smooth undertray

Much like the sides of the car, the underside of the Rasa has been designed to be as smooth as possible to ensure the airflow underneath the vehicle is not interrupted. Our in-wheel motors have even allowed us to make the area between the rear wheels totally smooth.

Vehicle Shape

The cockpit of the Rasa is designed to slip through the air with minimal resistance. It tapers at the rear to aid airflow much like the shape of a dolphin. The rear of the Rasa is square to allow the air to break away from the car cleanly.

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In Wheel Motors

In-Wheel Motors

We have co-designed bespoke in-wheel motors that form the hub on which the wheel and tyre are mounted. This eliminates the transmission, simplifies the powertrain and allows us to utilise regenerative braking from all four wheels. This lightweight design is far more compact and has higher efficiency than conventional electric drive systems. We have integrated friction drum brakes into the assembly and dramatically reduced brake particulates, an issue that is becoming more prevalent as cars increase in size and weight.

Supercapacitors

Supercapacitors

The Rasa utilises supercapacitors for acceleration and storing recovered energy. When the car brakes, the kinetic energy normally lost in the form of heat is captured as electricity.  As the car slows, this electricity floods into the super-capacitors and is sent back to the motors, allowing acceleration from 0 to 60 in just 9.5 seconds. Our unique Axle Guardian software monitors safety-critical powertrain features at all times.

Innovation in Business

Circular Business Model

Circular Business Model

Aimed at eliminating waste, Riversimple follows a circular model in which vehicles are provided as a service rather than sold as a product. This means that Riversimple is responsible for the life-span of the vehicles so, in contrast to traditional product-sale business models, the vehicles are designed from the very beginning to last as long as possible and be as robust as possible – for Riversimple, spending more on higher quality components in the build saves operating costs over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Future Guardian Governance

Future Guardian Governance

Riversimple’s corporate structure is being designed so that all our stakeholders – customers, investors, the environment, the community, the staff and our commercial partners – really do have a stake. The board’s duty is to balance and protect the benefits it delivers to these six critical stakeholder groups. The company is answerable to six Custodians who represent the stakeholders groups and who hold the voting shares.

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