First published in InFocus: UK Quoted Clean Motoring, July 2007. ©  Cleantech Investor Ltd.

Traction Technology acquired the assets of Eneco Limited last year. Eneco, which was in administration, was a designer and manufacturer of hybrid power packs for buses. The technology is very different from the parallel hybrid technology, used in many hybrid cars. In parallel hybrid technology, the normal internal combustion engine is supplemented by an electric motor. The Traction technology, in contrast, has a battery powered by a diesel engine. Since the diesel engine functions effectively as an on-board generator for the electric motor, it can always run at close to optimum efficiency. The diesel engine is not directly connected to the wheels and therefore does not need to adapt to varying power demands. The system also benefits from regenerative braking. Traction’s series hybrid engine systems are in trials with a number of bus operators in the UK.

Traction’s year end is 31 May. The company recently released a pre-closed period trading update confirming that it has sufficient resources for the coming year. Traction listed on AIM in December last year, raising £0.8 million.