Hyperdrive Innovation recognised with Queen’s Award for Enterprise

A Sunderland-based lithium-ion battery pack manufacturer has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its innovation and rapid growth.

Hyperdrive Innovation, which in 2019 opened the largest independent battery manufacturing facility in the UK, is celebrating after receiving the prestigious award.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognise companies excelling at international trade, innovation or sustainable development.

The innovation award was presented to Hyperdrive for its HY Energy Battery Pack – a zero emission alternative to the internal combustion engine that is already decarbonising vehicles across a wide range of industries, including rail, construction, material handling and off highway vehicles such as excavators and forklift trucks.

Hyperdrive was founded in 2012 and now employs 70 people in Sunderland.

The company is currently experiencing rapid growth as global demand for battery technology takes off.

It has been working with recognisable brands such as JCB and Hitachi Rail to decarbonise key sectors of the global economy.

Chris Pennison, CEO of Hyperdrive Innovation, said: “Receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise is testament to the hard work and effort of the Hyperdrive team over recent years.

“We are at an inflection point in our growth as demand for innovative battery technology is increasing more than ever.”

“Our cutting-edge battery packs provide a genuine battery power alternative to the internal combustion engine and are being deployed worldwide to support a wide range of industries to electrify, reduce operating costs and slash emissions.”

The HY Energy Battery Pack has high energy density enabling more energy in less space and at a lower weight, can operate in a range of environments and has a modular design – a scalable solution that is easy to integrate into multiple application types.

Last year, Hyperdrive and Hitachi Rail signed an exclusive agreement to develop battery packs to power zero-emission trains and create a battery hub in the North East.

Battery powered trains produce no greenhouse gases (GHG), no air pollution and are far quieter, offering passengers cleaner air in stations, less noise disruption and a carbon-free way to travel.

Hitachi Rail expects the potential market for Hyperdrive’s battery technology to be over 400 trains.

Patrick Melia, chief executive Sunderland City Council, said: “This is excellent news and fitting recognition of the exceptional innovation and growth achieved by Hyperdrive Innovation as a business from the outset.

“Hyperdrive have been consistent since start-up in their commitment both to high quality research and development and to its commercial application and are making a very significant contribution to the electrification of advanced manufacturing from their base here in Sunderland.”