Today's Torotrak
Torotrak has unrivalled know-how, expertise and experience in the development and application of its full-toroidal traction drive technology and a deep understanding of how to apply this technology to meet today’s transmission and drive-unit requirements.
With 60 employees (two thirds of whom are highly qualified engineers), the company has built up an extensive portfolio of patents and its technology has been recognised not just through its growing customer portfolio but also by winning a Motorsport World Expo Award and a Motor sport Industry Association Business Excellence Award.
The company offers its customers a wide choice of ways of working, including licensing, shared risk/reward partnerships and engineering consultancy.
Torotrak’s focus is to apply its technology in the following areas:
- Efficient and scalable transmissions for commercial vehicles and other markets
- Energy efficiency solutions comprising
- Improving engine efficiency through cost-effective auxiliary
- Realising energy recovery systems through power-dense transmissions for flywheel-based hybrid
systems
The company’s list of key licensees includes Tata Motors Limited and a major European bus and truck manufacturer (who remains anonymous for reasons of confidentiality). In March 2009, Torotrak secured its most significant licensing and exclusivity deal to date by entering into an agreement with Allison Transmission Inc, recognised as being the world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of commercial duty automatic transmissions and related systems for on-highway trucks and buses, off-highway equipment and for military vehicles. Under this agreement, Allison also acquired a 9.1% equity stake in Torotrak, making Allison the company’s biggest single shareholder.
Torotrak’s technology is now proven and in manufacture. In the outdoor power equipment sector, the Twin Toroidal Transmission (TTT) was the first product to be manufactured and sold by joint venture Infinitrak for the OPE market. This cost-effective transmission consists of two small toroidal IVTs which are combined to make a single, integrated transaxle for fitment to zero-turn ride-on mowers and lawn tractors. Following the restructuring of the Infinitrak joint venture in January 2011, Torotrak intends to actively pursue premium opportunities in the OPE market.
In addition to main drive transmissions, Torotrak is developing its technology for use in kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS), or mechanical, flywheel-based hybrid systems. In these applications a power-dense, lightweight toroidal CVT is used as the variable drive unit to connect a compact, high-speed flywheel into the vehicle’s driveline. Torotrak’s KERS CVT is a key element within the overall flywheel-based system, being an efficient, environmentally attractive, power-dense and cost-effective transmission which enables the complete system to provide substantial CO2 emission and fuel economy benefits. Whilst this technology has been developed for application in the automotive sector, it is also ideal for use in other markets where stop-start vehicle activity is common, such as public transport and materials handling.
Focusing on other new application areas, Torotrak’s innovative toroidal variable auxiliary drives (TVADs) optimise both the efficiency and performance of engine auxiliary systems, improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. TVAD technology enables engine and vehicle manufacturers to ensure that key auxiliary systems are always operated optimally, regardless of engine speed, thereby improving overall powertrain efficiency.
Licensee Carraro has incorporated Torotrak’s IVT technology into its new transaxle concept for agricultural applications. This was unveiled at the world’s foremost agricultural event, Agritechnica, in November 2009.
View Carraro's video incorporating Torotrak's technology.
In March 2011, Tata Motors unveiled its latest concept city car at the Geneva Motor Show which included a prototype transmission incorporating Torotrak's technology to provide responsive performance, excellent fuel economy and outstanding manoeuvrability.
In order to address the automotive industry’s need for affordable, effective engine downsizing technologies, in May 2010 Torotrak formed a 50:50 joint venture with centrifugal supercharger company Rotrex. The JV which is called Rotrak, will bring together the expertise of both companies to develop a variable drive compressor technology.