Efficient car manufacturer Riversimple has created a new hydrogen powered car which it claims will be ‘open source’ to allow the cars to be built and improved locally. 

The Riversimple car can reach a top speed of 50mph and has a range of 200 miles, with an efficiency equivalent to 300 miles to the gallon.

The cars are expected to be leased at £200 a month, which includes fuel and repair costs. Riversimple hopes to have 10 vehicles on test within a major city next year and then start production by 2013.

The designs for the car will be made available online and will be distributed to the 40 Fires foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that will make the designs "open source".

The idea behind the business model is to allow local manufacturing in small plants. In addition, designs can be adjusted for local markets, using locally sourced parts or materials. If the designs for the model are then improved by a local manufacturer they will be sent back to improve the overall development of the product.

Riversimple has teamed up with gas supply company BOC to answer the questions of where customers will be able to get their hydrogen from. BOC will be installing hydrogen pumps for the city which is chosen to test the first 10 Riversimple cars.

To learn more about Riversimple's business plan watch the video below: