Monday 6 July 2020

Hitachi Rail and Hyperdrive Innovation agree to develop batteries for electric trains

Hitachi Rail and Hyperdrive Innovation have agreed to develop battery packs to power clean trains and create a battery hub in the North East of England.

Currently, 58% of the UK’s 20,000-mile rail network is not electrified, despite battery trains producing no greenhouse gases, air pollution or noise pollution.

The two companies note that electrifying existing fleets can also extend the range of trains and allow passengers to reach stations on non-electrified lines without having to change train.

This agreement will see batteries manufactured at Hyperdrive’s HYVE facility in Sunderland and installed at Hitachi Rail’s train-building factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Hitachi says its 275-train fleet is a potential early recipient of the batteries for use in the UK and adds there are plans to install them on new metro and intercity trains as they replace ageing diesel models in the future.

Chris Pennison, CEO, Hyperdrive said: “Our partnership with Hitachi will secure major investment and jobs in the North East, reinforcing the UK’s battery supply chain and keeping the country on track to reach net-zero by 2050.”

“To date, only 42% of UK railways are electrified, with British trains using 469 million litres of diesel each year, emitting over 2.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, The partnership underpins the vision that the rail industry can be a major contributor to the UK government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050 and strengthens the case for home-grown innovation to be at the forefront of the UK’s clean growth strategy.”