Mystery surrounds firm touting 'inertialess drive'

An inventor who raised $6.8 million from Bay investors before shifting to Switzerland is planning to start a "green tech power generation mass production plant" at Mount Maunganui.

Inertialess Drive ZPE (2010) Ltd has advertised for 21 staff needed to bring Ken Pedlar's ideas to a mass market.

Mr Pedlar has for years touted a prototype micro-hydro generator using his "inertialess" rotor which runs off flowing water.

Inertia technologies have long been associated with science fiction, particularly in the realm of acceleration to faster-than-light speeds.

Efforts by the Bay of Plenty Times to discuss the plans with Mr Pedlar, the company director, were unsuccessful.