Evolute Drives, incorporated as a separate entity by its sister company Drive System Design (DSD), is seeking investors to help commercialise its high-efficiency MSYS multi-speed transmission system.

Developed to extend the range of battery electric and hybrid vehicles, MSYS is an advanced drive-train technology aimed initially at the premium market segment.

Managing director Alex Tylee-Birdsall said: “The German car makers in particular, which tend to be global leaders in automotive technology development, are already expressing a keen interest in our high-efficiency transmission for hybrid and electric vehicles. OEM success in electric and hybrid vehicles has emerged very clearly around premium level vehicles, and that is why we have targeted these early adopters of electric-vehicle technology. Licensing to higher-volume mainstream vehicle manufacturers will follow.”

As a start-up company, Evolute Drives has been registered under the UK’s Enterprise Investment Scheme, which provides significant tax incentives for investors in new technology.

Mr Tylee-Birdsall added: “With global patents now secured, our three-year funding requirement will cover the on-going costs of protecting our intellectual property while demonstrating the technology to vehicle manufacturers and their Tier One suppliers. The investment will help us to design, test and validate MSYS for specific applications, so that it can be licensed to vehicle OEMs and their manufacturing partners for high-volume series production.”

It has long been recognised within the automotive sector that multi-speed transmissions will be the next important step in the development of electric vehicles, allowing drive motors to be downsized, while extending range and performance.