Welsh hydrogen car firm Riversimple have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens UK to focus on regional skills development, sustainability and preparation for volume production.
The focus at the beginning of the partnership will be on preparing for full-scale manufacture of Riversimple’s hydrogen electric vehicles.
Siemens has previously supported technical innovation and has expertise in planning and simulation software for manufacturing operations and factory simulation software for the new production facilities.
The two companies signed the MoU to highlight collaboration on:
- Sustainability initiatives – focusing on circular product design, supply chain management and economic models
- Support for hydrogen mobility skills and learning in Wales and elsewhere
- Securing the financing to reach volume production of hydrogen vehicles
Riversimple has also announced the appointment of Gambit Corporate Finance and an investment round to raise £150 million over the next three years to fund two manufacturing plants.
The Powys-based firm aims to start commercial production of their coupe, the Rasa in 2023, and a light goods vehicle the following year. It has claimed each plant would create around 220 direct skilled jobs, making 5,000 vehicles per annum, as well as indirect jobs with suppliers.
Currently, Riversimple is building a low volume production run of Rasas for a trial with the general public based in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire. The trial is being supported by OZEV as part of the HTP programme.
Hugo Spowers, MD of Riversimple, commented: “Siemens is involved in green energy generation and has a history of enabling technology companies like ours. They share our passion for sustainability, hydrogen and the circular economy and have deep expertise in technology software and plant simulation as well as financing the tech sector. We are very much looking forward to building this relationship.”
Brian Holliday, MD Siemens Digital Industries GB & Ireland, said: “We support firms that produce boundary-breaking products in terms of design, manufacturing and performance. It is particularly satisfying when we get to support a programme with sustainability at its heart that can make a difference to the health of our planet.”
- image supplied from Riversimple press release
