Production of the Rasa hydrogen car by Riversimple of Llandrindod Wells has been pushed back from this year to 2024. That is when it anticipates a manufacturing plant with 220 people will be completed in Mid Wales and the company can also look at adding a saloon and commercial vehicle to the current coupe offering, founder Hugo Spowers has told media. The Nissan Qashqai is the safest car you can … [Read more...]
Weeds need removing from our green drive
There are a few weeds to be taken care of as the motor industry, energy providers, related suppliers and authorities take us down the green road towards 2030 and onwards, writes Robin Roberts. The haste and race to have low emission cars and other vehicles on our roads is tripping over some serious issues, notably cost, and not just for vehicles and infrastructure but the expense of losing … [Read more...]
Welsh hydrogen car gets Siemens UK support
One of the world’s leading technology companies has stepped in to boost plans and build hydrogen vehicles in Wales for global sale. Siemens UK has signed a memorandum of understanding with Riversimple, of Llandrindod Wells to make their Rasa car and a local delivery van. The car is already being prepared for trials with 12 drivers living in Abergavenny and the Welsh company installed a … [Read more...]
A plan for saving automotive jobs in Wales
Welsh Government and councils must prioritise supporting Tata Steel Port Talbot and Toyota Deeside, according to a far reaching report prepared for the Welsh Automotive Forum. The report by Ian Henry, head of Autoanalysis, follows similar studies he has carried out for WAF in recent years but his final conclusions have been published against a background of a global economic … [Read more...]
Wales to host Britain’s greenest ever motorsport event
Britain’s greenest-ever rally is taking place in Wales next weekend. The Green Dragon EV Rally is exclusively for hydrogen and pure electric cars and is based in Swansea, where Sir William Robert Grove invented the fuel cell in the 1840s. The event also breaks ground as it’s not only the first low carbon rally to be held in Britain, but it also allows any driver with a battery electric vehicle … [Read more...]
Wales’s ready for low carbon drive
Wales is ready to maximise on the huge opportunities presented by electric and hydrogen vehicles, Economy Secretary Ken Skates will tell key players in the sector this morning. The Economy Secretary was speaking ahead of a Welsh Government hosted Low Carbon Intelligent Mobility event bringing internationally recognised manufacturers including Aston Martin Lagonda, Toyota, Renault, Peugeot and … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 April
Riversimple has raised over £1.1 Million through crowd-funding. Now the Rasa-model fuel-cell powered car designed in Wales can move closer to reality and series production before being leased to the first users. IAM RoadSmart and participating local groups across the country are embarking on a major free giveaway to riders to coincide with the start of spring. Most of IAM RoadSmart’s … [Read more...]
Wales automotive industry is showpiece
The automotive sector shows how enterprises and start-ups can succeed in Wales. They are part of a new Welsh Government campaign to sell Wales to the world as a country for investment and good life qualities. Aston Martin, which is building a new car assembly plant at St Athan (above), Cardiff-based Admiral and Riversimple of Llandrindod Wells, are being used in the campaign … [Read more...]
Elfyn honoured 20 years after dad Gwyndaf
The Welsh Motoring Writers group has honoured two outstanding individuals for their achievements in Wales. The Tom Pryce Memorial Trophy recognises the achievements of Rally Driver Elfyn Evans who won this year’s British Rally Championship title. His father Gwyndaf was awarded WMW’s inaugural Tom Pryce Trophy in 1996 having won the BRC that year and now his son Elfyn, exactly two decades … [Read more...]
Year of opportunity for auto-suppliers to build on
It has been a momentous year for the automotive sector in Wales and Welsh Government wants to develop growth and opportunities throughout the supply chain, said Economy Secretary, Ken Skates at Autolink 2016 this morning. He told representatives from over 240 businesses meeting at Cardiff Stadium that the UK automotive sector last year saw 1.68M vehicles made in Britain and 2.37M engines were … [Read more...]