Torotrak gearing up for success

PRESTON-based Tototrak, specialists in the commercialisation of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for engines also used in Formula One, is making significant progress.

Ahead of its preliminary results announcement in June, the group expects to close the financial year ending on March 31 with at least £7.5m in cash with loans of £2.8m outstanding.

Key to its success has been the completion of a trial of a Flybrid KERS-equipped Wrightbus StreetLite vehicle which entered service last month operated by Arriva on a public bus route in Gillingham, Kent.

This followed a period of extensive functional and flywheel safety tests and in-vehicle roadworthiness testing. Initial feedback from passengers and drivers in terms of drivability and performance has been extremely positive.

Its commercial team is working closely with our bus OEM partner, Wrightbus, and a number of bus operators to secure initial sales orders for the bus KERS system during the next six months.

The company says the results from the current in-service trial with Arriva, demonstrating the performance of the KERS system, are an important validation for these on-going discussions.

Torotrak is aiming to provide a further update on the bus trials at the time of the Group’s preliminary results announcement.

The recent announcement by the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles of a £30 million fund for Ultra Low Carbon Bus procurement has also been a welcome boost.

Meanwhile Torotrak has also announced the appointment of Adam Robson as chief executive, taking over from Jeremy Deering.

“I have joined Torotrak at a very opportune moment,” said Robson. “A great deal of good work has been done to advance our technologies towards production and our engagement with commercial partners reflects the increasing interest in our low cost technology solutions.

“Now we are organising ourselves into dedicated teams each focused on delivering against our priority objectives to deliver value from the technology, commercialise our portfolio of products and deliver long term shareholder value.”

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