Limach and Hyperdrive partner on electric machines

Netherlands electric construction machinery specialist Limach has partnered with Hyperdrive Innovation, a UK company that designs and manufactures lithium-ion battery technology.

Hyperdrive’s battery packs will be used by Limach to replace diesel engines in its construction equipment.

Limach specialises in retrofitting new diesel construction machinery with emission-free, fully electric drivetrains. Its compact excavators have been deployed on construction sites across The Netherlands since 2018.

Each mini excavator saves an estimated 17 tonnes in carbon emissions each year compared to traditional diesel alternatives.

The agreement will see the number of battery packs Hyperdrive delivers to Limach double over the next twelve months.

The Netherlands has some of the strictest emissions regulations in the world, making it an early adopter for electrification. The Dutch government is incentivising the deployment of low emission equipment by supporting tenders for contracts that minimise carbon emissions and air pollution.

The use of fully electric construction machinery offers other advantages to the construction industry, particularly for the economic recovery post Covid-19, as the silent running equipment allows sites to operate for longer to recoup time following delayed operations.

Henri De Groot, Co-owner and Development Director of Limach said, “By partnering with Hyperdrive to develop our cutting-edge electric equipment, we are helping our customers secure building contracts and clean up their construction processes.”

Hyperdrive’s modular battery packs were chosen due to their energy density and modularity, allowing flexibility for application in a range of machines.

In July 2019, Hyperdrive opened its new Sunderland-based battery manufacturing facility, called HYVE, capable of manufacturing up to 30,000 battery packs annually.

The construction industry is responsible for 40% of European carbon emissions, making it an urgent priority for decarbonisation to meet net zero targets.