Optare agreement

Traction Technology PLC 19 November 2007 Traction Technology Plc (AIM: TRAC) Agreement with Optare to develop and market hybrid buses Traction Technology Plc ('Traction' or the 'Company'), a designer and deliverer of environmentally friendly, low emission series diesel electric hybrid engine systems, announces that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Optare Group ('Optare'), one of the UK's leading bus and coach designers and manufacturers, to jointly develop a range of single deck series hybrid vehicles for the UK bus market. It is planned to produce the first prototype vehicle based upon an Optare Versa with Traction's super capacitor powerpack by Spring 2008. Subject to the satisfaction of certain fuel economy and emissions targets, Optare has taken an option to build a minimum of 10 vehicles during 2008 for sale to various operators in the UK. Both parties are optimistic regarding the further sales opportunities for this new offering to the market. Traction's hybrid engine systems are already on trial with four separate bus companies in Merseyside, Suffolk, Sussex and with Epsom coaches on behalf of Transport for London. Nick Brayshaw, Chairman of Traction, commented: 'This agreement with Optare is a major step forward for Traction and now provides us with a direct route to market. We look forward to providing Optare with the proven technological advancements that we have made in our hybrid power and control systems in its operational environment.' Optare plays a leading role in UK bus design and manufacture and is one of the market leaders for single deck vehicles in the UK bus industry. The business comprises of three divisions: Bus Manufacturing, Coach Sales and Unitec, its dedicated after-sales and parts division. Optare employ 550 people across all divisions and has an annual turnover of around £60m. For more information visit http://www.optare.com. For further information please contact: Traction Technology Plc Nick Brayshaw, Chairman +44 (0) 1403 791 392 Ambrian Partners Limited Richard Brown/ Richard Greenfield +44 (0) 20 7776 6400 Parkgreen Communications Limited +44 (0) 20 7479 7933 Paul McManus +44 (0) 7980 541 893 paul.mcmanus@parkgreenmedia.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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