TV and radio presenter Chris Evans gave the Riversimple Rasa a thumbs up when he tried out the Welsh-made hydrogen fuel-cell car.
Photos of Chris Evans trying out the two-seater for size was well-covered by media after we issued it as a photo and caption and we also secured substantial online and print coverage – including in The Times and The Engineer magazine, focusing on other key news.
The makers of the Rasa, a car that emits just a spoonful of water – was awarded two grants worth £350,000, which could lead to the creation of 7,000 jobs in the UK.
A grant of £200,000, to work in collaboration with engineering company Presreg and the University of South Wales, will be used to develop a hydrogen container manifold and regulators for use in niche hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This means that hydrogen components can be made in the UK – rather than overseas, helping to create jobs and set up a national supply chain.
The innovative car marker is also part of a consortium with NetComposites and KS Composites that has been awarded funding worth £125,000 to develop a bio-carbon fibre made from flax, helping to reduce noise vibration and cost. If adopted by niche and mainstream car makers this new technology could lead to the creation of 7,000 jobs and generate revenues of £520 million a year.
Founder Hugo Spowers said: “The two grants will enable us to further refine our components and ensure that we can make more of the parts in the UK in the future, which is great news for local communities and for creating jobs.”
Riversimple were also runners up for the national award for Low Carbon Innovation by an SME at the Low Carbon Champions Awards, an event set up to celebrate achievement and innovation in low carbon road transport.