Secret New Hydrogen Car Being Developed in the UK Apparently Gets 250 MPG

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

The hydrogen fuel-cell market is gaining a new entry from the U.K.

A company called Riversimple is teasing a pre-production prototype of a hydrogen-powered car set to debut this week. The prototype is a two-seater coupe with 300 miles of driving range, offering an equivalent fuel economy of 250 mpg. According to Riversimple, the car’s ultimate goal is to eliminate the environmental impact of personal transportation altogether.

Details and specifications are expected to be revealed when the car is unveiled, but Riversimple does say that it weighs 1,146 pounds, thanks to a carbon fiber monocoque body weighing less than 88 lbs. It will get its energy from an 8.5kW hydrogen fuel cell that is located in the coupe’s rear.

SEE ALSO: What it’s Like Refueling with Hydrogen

The production prototype is designed by Chris Reitz, former design chief for the Fiat 500, along with his team at their studio in Barcelona, Spain. The company claims it has been testing an engineering prototype on the streets of London, clocking in speeds over 60 mph.

It appears the company is looking for additional funding, promising that with more money 20 cars will be ready for Beta test with customers later this year. Check back in the coming days when Riversimple pulls the cover off its prototype and we get all the details.

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Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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