I hear you Zendo ..
and I understand..And I think they are off to a good start in their communications with shareholders-style and content.As Sulax states it probably does wait til late Jan for Next Annual Meeting but I really was hoping for confirmation,update, or a "this never went anywhere" type of update to JG's earlier state of the state as outlined in article with RBJ:
"Q4: James Gleasman, CEO, Torvec Inc.
Rochester Business Journal
August 28, 2009
Q: Torvec and Rochester Institute of Technology recently announced an agreement to create a Safety and Efficiency in Automobiles Laboratory on the RIT campus. What do you hope to accomplish with the new lab?
A: Our basic goal is to establish SEAL as a center for advanced automotive and related energy technologies with a specific focus on enhancing and refining manufacturing processes so that automotive companies can bring these advanced technologies to market in the most efficient and environmentally friendly manner possible.
Obviously, as far as Torvec is concerned, we anticipate that our association with SEAL will enable us to further evaluate our advanced automotive technologies, leading to improvements in the production and manufacturing of our products. This will enable us to provide RIT faculty, staff and students with the opportunity to participate in the ongoing refinement and enhancement of advanced technologies designed for specific applications to the worldwide automotive and related energy industries.
We believe SEAL's success will enhance Rochester's image as a leader in the development and production of advanced automotive products, enlarge the pool of qualified engineers entering the auto industry and provide increased employment opportunities for skilled personnel.
Q: What other projects or agreements has Torvec been working on in recent months?
A: We currently are engaged, at various stages, with 17 distinct projects for private companies, the government and the U.S. military. These projects involve Torvec's Full Terrain Vehicle, IsoTorque differential, infinitely variable transmission and constant velocity joint. Recent developments concerning these projects include:
-- FTV-In October 2008, we shipped an FTV to the U.S. Air Force for evaluation as the Air Force's Advanced Combat Firefighting Vehicle. After vigorous performance runs in a variety of hostile locales-including sandy terrain-at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida's panhandle, the Air Force requested us to make certain modifications to the vehicle. We have nearly completed these modificationsat our Mount Read Boulevard facility and anticipate shipping the FTV to the Air Force for final review early this fall.
Our goal is to secure the contract for the production of the Air Force's Advanced Combat Firefighting Vehicle. As part of that process, and depending upon the availability of government dollars, we would have to decide whether to manufacture the FTV in the Rochester area or license our rights for manufacturing and distribution elsewhere.
Obviously, we anticipate that our success with the Air Force will lead to other contracts, for example, from other branches of the military and from state and local governments for environmental, emergency, homeland security and other, similar uses.
-- IVT-Over the past several months, Hodges Transportation Inc. (also known as the Nevada Automotive Testing Center) has evaluated our IVT technology on behalf of the Office of Naval Research for use in military vehicles, including observation of our IVT's operation on-site at our Mount Read facility. We understand that Hodges has submitted a highly complimentary report to the office with respect to the functionality, fuel-efficiency capability and emission reduction potential of Torvec's IVT.
Hodges was engaged by the Office of Naval Research to evaluate IVT technology for installation in three different types of military vehicles, including the next-generation Hummer. Our goal is to pursue this opportunity.
-- IsoTorque differential-Torvec is building design-specific models of its IsoTorque differential for two domestic auto manufacturers, a Pacific Rim OEM and a well-known electric car manufacturer located in California. This specific-design model will fit approximately 50 car models worldwide and improve the performance, traction, safety and overall vehicle efficiency of each of these models.
With the new CAFE standards recently put in place by Washington, companies are more inclined to adopt new ideas. One such goal is the use of our IsoTorque differential in front-wheel-drive vehicles to improve traction to 85 percent of an all-wheel-drive version of that vehicle while getting 2 mpg better fuel economy. The IsoTorque-equipped vehicle would have improved traction, handling and safety while not having the added expense, weight and complexity of an AWD vehicle.
The Pacific Rim company is interested in seeing the IsoTorque's benefits in its new rear-wheel-drive sports car as well as other models. The electric car manufacturer has high hopes that the high efficiency and other benefits of the IsoTorque would make it ideal for use in its all-electric vehicles.
In addition, we are working with one of the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturers to improve its axle design so that it, together with Torvec's IsoTorque differential, will result in greater traction and efficiency for trucks. Our new axle design has been approved, and the building of working prototypes is scheduled to begin in early 2010."
