A Welsh-based maker of hydrogen fuel cell cars, led by founder Hugo Spowers and working on the lightweight two-seat Rasa.
Riversimple is a small car company based in Wales that designs and builds hydrogen fuel cell cars. Its car, the Rasa, is a lightweight two-seat coupe with gull-wing doors. It runs on an electric drivetrain powered by hydrogen, with only water coming out of the tailpipe. The Rasa Beta has a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, a 10kW fuel cell and a motor on each wheel for four-wheel drive, and supercapacitors help with acceleration. Wales.com describes a range of about 300 miles and refuelling in about five minutes, and says the first Rasa Beta came off the production line in 2019. The name Rasa comes from the Latin "tabula rasa", meaning clean slate.
The company's stated mission is "to pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport". Its founder, Hugo Spowers, started in motorsport engineering and racing, and the company began in 2001 and was renamed Riversimple in 2007. It takes what it calls a Whole System Approach, covering design, materials, manufacturing, business model and governance. Spowers was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to technology.
Riversimple's headquarters and development centre are in Llandrindod Wells, Mid Wales. It previously had its head office in Ludlow, England, until 2014. Rasa test cars have been run in Monmouthshire and Milford Haven, and plans have been discussed for a manufacturing site in Powys. It works with Welsh Government and Innovate UK funding and partners including Coventry University's automotive design school.
Its ownership model is unusual. The Future Guardian Governance model has six custodian companies representing customers, investors, staff, the environment, the community and commercial partners equally. The Rasa is planned to be offered on a monthly subscription covering the car, maintenance, insurance and fuel. Juergen Maier CBE, formerly of Siemens UK, has served in its governance.
This is a small engineering team, so jobs are likely to include vehicle and hydrogen engineers, design, testing and operations. It is a chance to see how a car can be redesigned around sustainability. Earlier projects included the Morgan LIFECar (2005 to 2008) and the Hyrban (2010). Partners include Coventry University's automotive design school (2024), Pi Engineering Consultancy (2025), hydrogen supply companies and the Energy Kingdom project in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Wales.com said a planned plant in Powys could employ around 200 local people.
Website: www.riversimple.com
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