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Hyperdrive partners with Limach

Hyperdrive Innovation, a Sunderland-based designer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery technology, has announced its battery partnership with Limach, the Dutch electric construction machinery specialist. The partnership will lead to the development of cutting-edge battery powered machinery to accelerate decarbonisation and improve air quality on construction sites. Hyperdrive’s battery packs will be used by Limach to replace diesel engines in a range of new construction equipment.

The partnership comes in the form of an extended supply agreement between the two companies that will see the number of battery packs Hyperdrive deliver to Limach double over the next twelve months. It comes in response to a sharp rise in demand from contractors in the Netherlands for bigger electric machines, including excavators, wheel loaders and wheeled cranes. Limach specialises in retrofitting brand new diesel construction machinery with emission-free fully electric drivetrains. Its compact excavators have been successfully deployed on construction sites across The Netherlands since 2018, with each mini excavator saving an estimated 17 tonnes in carbon emissions each year when compared to traditional diesel alternatives.

The Netherlands has some of the most stringent emissions regulations in the world making it a key market for electrification. The Dutch government is incentivising the deployment of low emission equipment by supporting tenders for contracts that have less of an impact on carbon emissions and air pollution, stimulating a sharp rise in demand for low emission equipment. Limach’s fully electric solutions cater to this demand and are supporting construction companies in The Netherlands to secure valuable building contracts.

Due to the near silent engine and zero exhaust emissions, Limach excavators are ideal for indoor demolition and other in- and outdoor applications. The excavators have been deployed in supermarkets across the country for indoor demolition operations. Soon, Limach’s newest 10-tonne fully electric excavators will be deployed by Gasunie, the organisation responsible for The Netherlands natural gas network, in a multi-year project to remove disused gas pipes in urban areas.

Hyperdrive’s modular battery packs were chosen due to their top of the rage energy density and modularity, allowing flexibility for application in a range of different machines. Hyperdrives manufacturing capacity and efficiency was also an important factor in securing the supply contract. In July 2019, Hyperdrive opened its new Sunderland-based battery manufacturing facility, HYVE, capable of manufacturing up to 30,000 battery packs annually.

The news comes just weeks after a European-wide report – which included views from experts from Wilmott Dixson, Innovate UK, Colas Group, and NCC – forecast rapid growth in demand for cleaner and quieter electrified construction equipment over the next decade to meet emission targets and ‘build back better’ following the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction industry is responsible for 40% of European carbon emissions, making it an urgent priority for decarbonisation to meet net zero targets.

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