Wales Business, International Stephen Farrell

Welsh hydrogen-powered car developer Riversimple has awarded a contract for a new refuelling station that will support the trial of its Rasa vehicle in Abergavenny.

McPhy, a French designer and manufacturer of hydrogen equipment for the energy, transport and industrial sectors, has been awarded the contract, marking its entry into the UK hydrogen refuelling station market.

Riversimple will start a 12-month beta-trial of its hydrogen-powered FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) Rasa at the end of 2017 around Abergavenny. An initial 20 vehicles will be used with 100 test drivers.

McPhy will provide a McFilling refueling station which will enable drivers to fill up with enough hydrogen in less than five minutes to travel 500 km.

Pascal Mauberger, McPhy Energy's chairman and chief executive, said: "We are delighted that Riversimple has chosen our McFilling solution to support the project to develop the Rasa, its innovative vehicle, which is opening up the future of affordably-priced clean mobility.

"This contract will enable us to enter the UK hydrogen mobility market, which is starting to take off."

Dr Stafford Lloyd, Riversimple's systems and sustainability engineer, added: "We are impressed with the simplicity and elegance of McPhy's refuelling solutions and are looking forward to installing the first one on UK soil."