As Lightning Hybrids began to garner interest, inquiries about the technology got company officials thinking. A new division, Hydraulic Hybrid Systems Inc., will take on the challenge of developing retrofit kits for vehicles already on the road.

"As we started working on the hydraulic hybrid system for the cars, we had a lot of people come out of the woodwork needing it for fleet vehicles," said Bonnie Trowbridge, vice president for business development at Lightning Hybrids.

Trowbridge pointed to Environmental Protection Agency data on similar technology that shows energy efficiency gains of 40 percent to 60 percent. Lightning Hybrids is hoping to replicate or surpass those savings. Trowbridge said the average cost for a retrofit kit will be around $12,900, with a return on investment slated for year two.

http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=101414