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An environmentally-friendly car manufacturer is urging one council to create a partnership to road-test its new technology. Riversimple, which is developing its Urban Car prototype, hopes city councils will bid for the chance to take part in a pilot scheme to test 50 vehicles, and help develop the infrastructure to support them. The car is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell which generates electricity to power its motors. It weighs just 350kg and has a top speed of 50mph, a range of around 240 miles, and is made from carbon fibre – the same material as Formula 1 racing cars. Scientists and car manufacturers are researching whether hydrogen cells could be a credible replacement for the combustion engine, since the resulting vehicle emits no exhaust emissions and the by-product is water. But the cost of building fuel stations and servicing infrastructure will be high. Councils are already involved in piloting electric vehicles and cars powered by biofuel. The company hopes that by bringing a major UK city on board, and making its blueprints open to all, it can create a tipping point for the technology. Riversimple would provide 50 vehicles to the council, local businesses and private users to assess how they perform. The scheme would be run as a public-private partnership with a local chamber of commerce also taking part. Riversimple hopes to be able to make an announcement on potential bidders in the autumn. A spokesman said: ‘Before we get to the stage of being able to lease them commercially, there will be at least one pilot scheme. ‘There has already been some informal interest from local authorities and we are confident that more councils will follow.'

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CLIMATE CHANGE

'Green' car-maker seeks council road-tester

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