Torotrak to fit KERS into Caterpillar wheel loader

Torotrak has secured funding to fit KERS technology into a wheel loader programme in collaboration with Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Illinois.

CVT sales to reach 12 million - Torotrak

Torotrak Group claims sales of CVTs could reach 12 million by 2020 and has designed a variator with a ratio spread of 12 for front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles to meet future demand. The design has been proven up to 300kW.

Torotrak shuns IVTs; focuses on KERS, V-Charge

Transmission engineer Torotrak plc has put new focus on two of its three main technologies, namely KERS and V-Charge.

Torotrak sees JCB as ‘ideal partner’

Torotrak and JCB are working on a three-year £1,100,000 project to move the technology company’s Flybrid system know-how towards TRL8 readiness level.

Torotrak seeks £13.8m to drive transmissions

Torotrak is asking investors to stump up £13.8 million. But will it be money down the drain?

Torotrak needs more money

Torotrak, in announcing its trading update to 31 March 2015, has stated “additional funding from partners, licensees or new and existing shareholders is likely to be required during the 2015/16 financial year”. 

City of London waits for Torotrak

The next three months are likely to prove interesting at transmission specialist Torotrak plc.

Question: Is RVT the new CVT?

OEMs, seemingly, are taking an interest in the reversible variable transmission (RVT) but is it a better transmission than the toroidal continuously variable transmission (CVT)?

One man thinks so, but then he would, being the inventor. And inventors, by their nature, consider their own inventions far superior to those of other people

Dana set to commercialise truck CVTs

Industry insiders are awaiting the next stage in the development of the NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) transmission developed by Fallbrook Technologies Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas.

Developed originally for cycles, the company claims the transmission has applications in passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and certain off-highway duties.

Forbes Perry - Obituary

We are grateful to Alan Perry, one of Forbes Perry’s sons, for kindly providing this obituary. John Mortimer’s close association with the inventor of the Perbury infinitely variable transmission began when Mortimer was editor of The Engineer in the 1960s.

Volvo video highlights KERS

A short video on the directorstalk.com website posted on 20 April 2013 in conjunction with Volvo Cars highlights the benefits of the Torotrak/Flybrid Kinetic Energy Recover System (KERS).

The flywheel KERS is fitted to the rear axle. During retardation, the braking energy makes the flywheel spin up to 60,000 rev/min. When the car starts moving off again, the flywheel’s rotation is transferred to the rear wheels through a specially designed transmission.

The fuel consumption can be reduced by some 25 per cent. Also, the power of the engine is boosted and the car’s acceleration improved.

‘Zero-turn’ technology on the road soon

Tata will have road-going models of its Pixel city car fitted with ‘zero turn’ technology by the year end, according to Auto Express. Whether it will use Torotrak’s infinitely variable transmission (IVT) remains to be seen.

When questioned from time to time concerning progress about its infinitely variable transmission (IVT) fitted to the “spin-on-the-spot” Tata Pixel, Torotrak of Leyland, Lancashire has always held a position of ‘no comment, arguing that it is the responsibility of the customer to make disclosures.

Now, it seems, Auto Express has enjoyed a world exclusive first drive of the concept car designed for European cities.

YouTube boost for Torotrak

In a YouTube video clip released today, Jeremy Deering, chief executive of Torotrak plc, declared the “synergies are tremendous” when he referred to the recent link-up of Torotrak and Flybrid Automotive Ltd. He stated that Allison Transmission Inc. has confirmed its exclusivity in Torotrak’s IVT technology.

The YouTube video clip is a further indication of the manner Deering is bringing a breath of fresh to Torotrak since he took over the helm from former CEO Dick Elsy.

Jon Hilton added that Torotrak’s stake of 20 per cent in his company was important because it allowed the Flybrid to “press on and get our product to market”.

And Torotrak group director Garry Wilson added that “this year we will build a demonstrator bus” to highlight the benefits of Torotrak and Flybrid’s combined technologies.                                               ∎

Torotrak: where to now?

Torotrak has a new CEO. Is the company now about to deliver the goods, or is a long wait still in prospect?

Many are the explanations why chief executive officers leave their companies. Some, like bankers, do so after feeling the ire of public, shareholders or government. Others feel they have reached the end of the road in what they can achieve. Others are tempted by the prospect of new challenges.

Only Dick Elsy knows the real reason for leaving transmission innovator Torotrak plc to join the High Value Manufacturing – Catapult from the first of  this month as chief executive officer, replacing the interim CEO. This particular Catapult first opened in October 2011.

Elsy is replaced as CEO by Jeremy Deering, Torotrak’s finance and commercial director; he has been with Torotrak since 2006.