Hitachi looks to build battery plant in the North East

This could be really important and really positive news for manufacturing in the North East of England.

Hitachi Rail has agreed with Hyperdrive to develop a battery Hub in NorthEast. The plan is to manufacture battery packs to power zero-emission trains and help accelerate progress towards cutting carbon emissions from rail transport.

Hitachi sees a market for more than 400 battery powered trains in the UK.

Batteries would be manufactured at Hyperdrive’s facility in Sunderland and then installed at Hitachi Rail’s train-building factory in Newton Aycliffe. If successful, consider the possible positive multiplier effects on the local and regional economy in addition to the environmental considerations.

It is also a good example to use of the commercial potential of joint ventures between businesses and also the impact of inflows of foreign direct investment into a region where unemployment rates are higher and employment rates lower than the national average.