Ricardo Makes Key Clean Energy Appointments

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., March 16 -- Strengthened capability in wind energy builds on Ricardo's global leadership position in designing and delivering low carbon technology solutions to the automotive, transportation and renewable energy sectors. Ricardo has announced today the strengthening of its global clean energy team with two key appointments in the US and Europe, bringing significant additional expertise in wind energy systems engineering. With these new appointments Ricardo consolidates its already strong presence in research and development of wind turbine drivetrains of up to 10 MW capacity, and is able to provide a comprehensive engineering service including program engineering as well as advanced technologies in drivetrain architecture and integration, gearboxes, bearings, pitch and yaw systems, generators and control systems.

At Ricardo UK Ltd, Richard Jones is appointed as chief engineer, wind energy, within the clean energy group. Jones joins Ricardo from BP Alternative Energy, where he was development engineering manager - wind. He has almost twenty years engineering experience in the wind energy sector having undertaken senior roles for companies including Vestas, Nordex Energy and National Wind Power. In the US, Marc Wiseman joins Ricardo Inc. from Third Planet Windpower, where he was vice president with responsibility for developing utility scale wind power facilities for the Western US. Wiseman was also the VP of Technology responsible for corporate relationships with turbine manufacturers such as GE, Vestas, Suzlon and DeWind. In his new role Wiseman will head the Ricardo Inc. advanced & clean energy product group.

Steve Parker, Ricardo plc. executive director with responsibility for clean energy strategy, said: "Richard Jones and Marc Wiseman bring significant complementary skills to Ricardo's global clean energy team. Their recruitment underscores our commitment to providing a comprehensive capability in wind power from strategic planning to systems engineering and technology development. This builds upon Ricardo's long-standing expertise and world-leading position in the development and application of clean technology in sectors including wind and tidal power, electric and hybrid vehicle powertrains, fuel cells and reformer systems for both stationary and transport use, and the control electronics and software that enable the successful product application of such advanced technologies."

About Ricardo

Ricardo, the Eco-Innovation Technology Company, is a leading independent provider of technology, product innovation, engineering solutions and strategic consulting to the world's automotive, military, transport and new energy industries. The company's skill base represents the state-of-the-art in low emissions and fuel-efficient powertrain technology

With technical centers and offices throughout Europe, the U.S. and Asia, Ricardo provides engineering expertise ranging from vehicle systems integration, controls & electronics, hardware and software development, to the latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies.

Ricardo's customers include the world's major automakers and suppliers as well as manufacturers in the military, commercial, off-highway and clean energy sectors. The company also serves in advisory roles to governmental and independent agencies. Ricardo's U.S. operation, Ricardo, Inc., is headquartered in Van Buren Township, Michigan. Ricardo plc posted sales of $394 million in financial year 2008 and is a constituent of the FTSE TechMark 100 index - a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.ricardo.com.

Ricardo offers TVFE(TM), its Total Vehicle Fuel Economy engineering service, to transportation manufacturers worldwide to provide objective evaluation of all available technologies to identify the most cost-effective strategies to optimize fuel economy and CO2 goals. For more information on TVFE, please visit www.totalvehiclefueleconomy.com.