Design Competition for a Hydrogen-Electric Supercar
Autocar and Riversimple, the UK’s only manufacturer of hydrogen-electric road cars, have partnered to launch a design competition for automotive students at Coventry University. The aim of the competition is to design a radical supercar that could potentially be put into production by Riversimple. The brief specifies that the cars should be simple, elegant, and incorporate a hydrogen fuel cell at the front, with the electronics and batteries located in the rear. The size of the supercar should be similar to a Ferrari Dino 246 GT.
The key requirement for the design is to use the same lightweight carbon fiber chassis as Riversimple’s Rasa model, which weighs only 655kg. The supercars designed by the students must weigh no more than 620kg. This lightweight approach, combined with the fuel cell’s output of up to 270bhp, will result in a target 0-62mph sprint time of 3.5 seconds and a 0-100mph time of 6.2 seconds. The top speed will be limited to approximately 100mph. The tires for the supercar will be relatively modest 185/40×17, as the lightweight design does not require larger tires.
According to Riversimple CEO Hugo Spowers, the parameters for the design competition are challenging, but the students have an enticing incentive. Unlike most design competitions that are purely theoretical, Riversimple has the potential to adopt the winning designs for production. The competition offers students a real opportunity to contribute to the development of a commercially viable supercar.
Spowers has expressed his vision for the car’s design, stating that he wants to avoid complex and aggressive features while also staying away from retro designs. He envisions the use of classical gull-wing doors with a high sill for structural purposes and easy access. However, he is open to seeing if the student-designers have any other innovative ideas.
The entries for the design competition will be judged by Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen’s design boss, later this year. Interestingly, Mindt himself participated in a similar design competition backed by Autocar as a student in 1992 and had his own work published. This adds credibility to the competition and highlights the potential for student designs to have a significant impact on the future of automotive design.
While the production timeline for the supercar has not been determined yet, Riversimple is aiming to raise around £5 million from investors to fund the project. If successful, the supercar could hit the roads in just three years. However, Spowers mentions that the car will not be cheap due to its rarity and sophistication. This indicates that the supercar will likely be positioned as a high-end, exclusive vehicle.
In conclusion, the design competition for a hydrogen-electric supercar by Autocar and Riversimple presents an exciting opportunity for automotive students to showcase their talents and potentially have their designs adopted for production. The lightweight design and hydrogen fuel cell technology promise impressive performance, while the involvement of Volkswagen’s design boss as a judge adds credibility to the competition. With the right funding, this supercar could become a reality in just a few years, offering a unique and sophisticated option in the automotive market.
