The future of transport will be driven by sustainability innovation. No wonder then that Hugo Spowers is so upbeat about the future of Riversimple - the hydrogen-powered car business he founded back in 2001.
Since then, Spowers has devoted the last 20 years to pioneering hydrogen as a game-changing fuel technology for an automotive industry that is in a rush to transition from petrol and diesel to transparently sustainable fuels.
The philosophy behind embracing hydrogen is clear: it has a vital and proven role to play in decarbonising transport as quickly and effectively as possible.
“Nothing else can be as sustainable as a hydrogen car for the sort of [driving] range to which we’ve become accustomed,” says Spowers. “It really is a step change in the sustainability of personal transport.”
Riversimple’s signature car, the Rasa, can get a 300-mile driving range from less than two kilograms of hydrogen stored in its secure fuel cell. By comparison, the current industry leading electric vehicles (EVs) require batteries weighing nearly 500 kilograms to achieve that same range performance.
Listen to Riversimple’s single-minded commitment transforming the auto industry and you’d be excused for thinking this is a Silicon Valley disruptor rather than a company based in Llandrindod Wells, Powys.
So why did Spowers decide that Wales was the best place to settle and grow his business?
“We came to Wales because having real communication with government and agility is incredibly important,” says Spowers. “Not just in automotive but also in the renewable energy sector.”
What excites Spowers is the amount of renewable energy activity taking place in Wales. “It’s all about integrating onshore and offshore wind and solar PV, electricity, hydrogen. That is the sort of integrated approach that I believe is the future for renewable energy and it’s happening here in Wales.”
Riversimple – a pure-play renewable energy company in its right – is involved across a number of industry sectors in Wales and, because of its size and focus on collaboration, the company has access to many different partners.
One example of this is a pilot scheme in conjunction with Monmouthshire local government that aims to concentrated demand for hydrogen refuelling. Another is a private partnership with a firm that is committed to installing 800 hydrogen filling stations across the UK.
Through partnership, good government relationships and good old hard work, Spowers believes that Riversimple’s hydrogen innovations can reshape not just the automobile industry but also in the renewable energy world.
“It’s a great opportunity for Wales to really establish a position of global significance in an immature sector,” he says.
Even as Riversimple grows to meet the awakening demand for truly sustainable personal transport, Spowers still sees the company remaining true to its Welsh roots.
“There’s absolutely no reason why we can’t do what we’re doing here in mid-Wales [while] bringing in other suppliers to support the plant,” he says.
“Ultimately, we want to be playing a role in helping build resilient local economies.”
Learn more about Riversimple on the Riversimple website.
