Hitachi Rail selects Turntide for next-gen LFP batteries

This order comes after Hitachi Rail was awarded a contract to build nine battery intercity (tri-mode) trains for Arriva’s Grand Central and Angel Trains, which will be the first new battery trains manufactured in the UK.

Hitachi will place orders worth nearly £10m with Turntide Technologies to continue R&D and supply LFP batteries.

In addition to the battery systems, Turntide’s solution includes an advanced battery management system featuring Safety Integrity Level 2 functional safety, compliant with IEC 61508, to detect and mitigate hazards in the event of system failures. It also meets IEC 62243 cybersecurity standards. 

In a statement, Koji Agatsuma, CTO Vehicles, Hitachi Rail said, “Our additional £10m investment into Turntide Technologies demonstrates our commitment to North East battery innovation. 

“Battery trains aren’t just about delivering greener, quieter journeys - they also create a new advanced manufacturing opportunity and unlocks energy optimisation through vehicle-to-grid technology.”

"We're extremely proud of our roots in the North East, so we’re thrilled that the technologically advanced batteries for our new fleet of trains for Grand Central will also be manufactured there,” said Paul Hutchings, managing director of Arriva UK Trains’ Rail Services. “This is an important milestone on our decarbonisation journey allowing us to operate on electrified and non-electrified tracks across the country.  This partnership in developing state-of-the-art technology will reduce emissions and fuel usage, while giving passengers a more comfortable experience."