Flybrid and a very secret client

Next year will be particularly busy for Flybrid Automotive Ltd, the Silverstone-based company that has pioneered flywheel-based kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) for use in road vehicles.

The first production application of a KERS-based hybrid is likely to appear in the Wrightbus StreetLite product range that appears in 2014.

This activity will mark a breakthrough for Flybrid Automotive Ltd of Silverstone which has developed mechanical flywheel kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) using either clutched flywheel transmissions (CFT) or continuously variable transmissions (CVT) of the type designed and developed by Torotrak Ltd.

Torotrak expands business links

 Within a couple of months, the employees of Motorsport Components Ltd will move premises and become part of Lancashire-based Torotrak plc which earlier this month acquired the business with its modest annualised turnover of £214,000 for £175,000.

The five-man business has worked closely in the past with the variable drive innovator, machining various precision components including cases, shafts and actuator assemblies.

Now the team will form the nucleus of a ‘new’ in-house manufacturing unit geared to short-run manufacture of completed assemblies such as MKERS – mechanical kinetic energy recovery systems – of the type that could be fitted to urban bus fleets.

Torotrak will maintain MCL’s key customer relationships. However, the precision machining and fabrication services will support the prototype and low-volume manufacturing requirements of Torotrak’s programmes and will be a catalysts for growth in this area.