Riversimple’s first prototype hits the road
Riversimple’s first prototype has been released. The hydrogen networked car has hit the road and is as lean and spare as expected. In order to keep the weight of the car down and improve performance, the car interior is stripped to the bare essentials.
As mentioned in last week’s article, the Hyrban is part of a new business design as well as a new type of car. Riversimple has designed this car to be durable since it expects to only lease the Hyrban not sell it. Since Riversimple will be providing fuel and maintenance, the company has to make sure the car is well-built and fuel efficient.
It has taken nine years to develop the prototype. During that time, the designers looked at ways of paring down the weight and stripping out obsolete systems. The result is a small two-seater developed for urban environments that can also turn in a decent performance on highways while providing ample distance.
The prototype is made of composites and has gull wing doors that open up and out. The exterior is a matte gray color that suggests the car is waiting for the actual paint job. Otherwise, the car resembles a Smart ForTwo. The rear of the car ends just after the rear tires giving it a truncated appearance.
The interior is extremely spare. The dashboard is miniscule compared to other cars. It doesn’t house but three displays and does not run the width of the car. Presumably, some amenities that drivers have come to expect – like sound systems and a place to hook up a GPS system – will be included in the final version, but right now, there isn’t even a cup holder for morning coffee.
The seats are extremely thin and appear to be a molded composite of some sort covered in suede or a suede like fabric with minimal padding. There is no back seat and very little space behind the seats for carrying additional items. Presumably what space there is, will be accessed through the back window that appears to lift up for access to the tiny storage area. A few bags of groceries, but little else will fit back there.
There is nothing that looks familiar under the hood of the car. There is no engine nor are there the usual braking and power steering systems that you associate with cars. The motors are on each wheel and the regenerative brakes send power to ultracapacitors for storage since the car doesn’t have a battery bank. The hydrogen tank is located under the car.
This is not a car meant for families or small children. It clearly is meant as a one or two person commuter car – utilitarian in purpose and design. The car has been unveiled and fulfills the company’s aspirations.
Let’s see what further refinements appear in the future prototypes and vehicles. Since the car design has been provided under an Open Source license, future modifications may come from sources outside the company.
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