Hoppecke Batterien
Hoppecke Batterien is a German family-owned manufacturer of industrial battery systems, headquartered in Brilon, North Rhine-Westphalia, supplying onboard rail batteries in lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and lithium-ion technologies.
Hoppecke was founded in 1927 by Carl Zoellner and has remained in the ownership of the Zoellner family since, led in the fourth generation by Dr. Marc Zoellner. According to the company’s own figures, the group operates 22 international subsidiaries and 12 production plants, employs more than 2,000 people, generates a turnover above EUR 600 million, and has customers in 150 countries.
Rail activities are organised under Hoppecke Batterie Systeme GmbH in Brilon. Development work sits with Hoppecke Rail Systems GmbH in Zwickau, which was registered as Hoppecke Advanced Battery Technology GmbH until 2019 and as INTILION GmbH until 2023.
Rail battery portfolio
Hoppecke supplies battery systems for metros, commuter and high-speed trains, locomotives, and trams, based on lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and lithium-ion technologies. The portfolio ranges from individual cells and replacement batteries to complete onboard energy systems including chargers, monitoring, and battery management.
Hoppecke’s rail portfolio has been on the market for more than 30 years, built around its FNC fibre-structure nickel-cadmium technology. The company states it has delivered over 2.5 million FNC cells to railway customers worldwide.
The lithium-ion platform is offered as LiAux for auxiliary power supply and LiTrac for traction applications, built from cell modules at 23 V, 27 V, and 37 V (LiAux) and 32 V, 41 V, and 52 V (LiTrac). Both variants can be configured for roof, underfloor, or in-vehicle installation.
Certification and production
Hoppecke supplies battery systems to vehicle manufacturers and railway operators, with FNC cell and electrode production based in Brilon.
Hoppecke’s product documentation lists the Brilon site as certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EN 15085, and the International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS).
India partnership
In May 2025, Hoppecke announced a collaboration with TKIL Industries — formerly Thyssenkrupp Industries India — on joint development, production, and integration of battery systems for metros, regional trains, and locomotives in the Indian rail market.
