Riversimple is to release an eco-friendly vehicle this month. A two-seater car, it weighs only 700 pounds. The company promises to give free fuel, given that customers lease the car for 20 years.

The company decided to release the car in Open Source license to hasten the development process and develop more robust car while cutting down on the cost of its components. There’s an altruistic view to it as well:

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Human society is facing the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change, and transport represents a significant proportion of global emissions.We urgently need more fuel efficient vehicles, and by sharing our ideas and our designs we hope to encourage others to adopt this novel technology.

The cost-efficient , network electric vehicle is run on hydrogen fuel cells. It promises to deliver a top speed of 50 mph (80 kph), and expects its fuel consumption at 300 miles per gallon.

“Network electric” means that the different components of the car’s electrical system function as a network, allowing electricity to pass in multiple directions (eg. from the fuel cell to the motors or to the ultracapacitors, from the motors to and from the ultracapacitors, and so on).  This is a key element in the advanced energy efficiency of the vehicle.

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