A collaboration between two North East firms wll aim to create a battery hub to power zero-emission trains.
Train manufacturer Hitachi Rail, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is working with Sunderland battery firm Hyperdrive Innocation on a project that aims to create batteries to power hundreds of trains across the 海角视频.
The firms believe more than 400 trains could be fitted with batteries, cutting emissions from the more than half of the 海角视频鈥檚 rail network that is not electrified.
Hitachi has identified its fleets of 275 trains as potential recipients of the batteries for use in the 海角视频, as well as installing them on new metro and intercity trains that will be needed in the coming years to replace ageing diesel fleets.
Hitachi Rail group CEO Andrew Barr said: 鈥淏attery trains can play a vital role in improving the air we breathe, tackling climate change and providing modern, high performing rail service 鈥 all things we know passengers want to see.
鈥淭he partnership with Hyperdrive creates shovel-ready opportunity for new battery trains to be ordered now. As well as new trains, this is also a window of opportunity to cut carbon and supercharge a green recovery in the North East and across the 海角视频.鈥
Chris Pennison, CEO at Hyperdrive Innovation, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to bring our expertise and experience as a trusted electrification partner to a new industry, assisting an innovative organisation like Hitachi, as it modernises and decarbonises 海角视频 rail networks.
鈥淥ur partnership with Hitachi will secure major investment and jobs in the North East, reinforcing the 海角视频鈥檚 battery supply chain and keeping the country on track to reach net-zero by 2050.
鈥淭o date, only 42% of 海角视频 railways are electrified, with British trains using 469m litres of diesel each year, emitting over 2.4m tonnes CO2 annually. The partnership underpins the vision that the rail industry can be a major contributor to the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 target of net zero emissions by 2050 and strengthens the case for home-grown innovation to be at the forefront of the 海角视频鈥檚 clean growth strategy.鈥
Hyperdrive said that a widespread adoption of battery train technology could help it increase its manufacturing capability up to 30,000 battery packs per year and double the number of jobs at its Sunderland factory.
The project has been praised by Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic to see two innovative companies joining forces to create good quality manufacturing jobs across the North East.
鈥淎n emission-free public transport system is vital if we鈥檙e to build a stronger, greener economic recovery that spreads prosperity and opportunity across the 海角视频.鈥
