Siemens UK is supporting Riversimple in its plans to produce the Rasa hydrogen electric coupe vehicle in Powys
Riversimple, a Welsh technology company specialising in hydrogen fuelled electric cars, and Siemens UK have signed an agreement focusing on regional skills development, sustainability and preparation for volume production.
The agreement centres around sustainability initiatives, support for skills and learning requirements in Wales for the hydrogen mobility sector and securing the financing required to reach volume production of highly efficient hydrogen vehicles.
The focus in the first instance will be on preparing for full-scale manufacture of Riversimple’s hydrogen electric vehicles. The company will tap Siemens’ long history of supporting technical innovation and its depth of expertise in planning and simulation software for manufacturing operations and factory simulation software for the new production facilities.
According to Hugo Spowers, MD of Riversimple, Siemens is involved in green energy generation and has a history of enabling technology companies. “They share our passion for sustainability, hydrogen and the circular economy and have deep expertise in technology software and plant simulation as well as financing the tech sector. We are very much looking forward to building this relationship,” he says.
Brian Holliday, MD Siemens Digital Industries GB & Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be working with Riversimple, which has designed and built a revolutionary electric car that runs on hydrogen. We support firms that produce boundary-breaking products in terms of design, manufacturing and performance. It is particularly satisfying when we get to support a programme with sustainability at its heart that can make a difference to the health of our planet.”
The Powys-based firm aims to start commercial production of their eco coupe, the Rasa, in 2023, and a light goods vehicle the following year – it is estimated that each plant would create around 220 direct skilled jobs, making 5,000 vehicles per annum, as well as indirect jobs with suppliers.
Currently, Riversimple is building a low volume production run of Rasas for a public trial based in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire.