Idex 2021: UAE defence company Nimr to partner with Singapore's ST Engineering to build hybrid EVs

Hybrid vehicles will be quieter, faster and have a longer range than those with traditional diesel engines

Daniel Lam (left), head of ST Engineering in Middle East, while signing the deal with Abri du Plessis, chief executive of Nimr. Courtesy Nimr

Abu Dhabi-based military vehicle maker Nimr is joining forces with Singapore's ST Engineering to build hybrid electric drive (HED) systems that can be used in armoured vehicles.

The HED systems offer a number of benefits over typical diesel engines, such as faster acceleration and an improved range, as well as lower emissions, Nimr said in a statement.

They are also much quieter than conventional engines, which is a crucial requirement in combat operations, it added.

Nimr will be the first manufacturer in the region to integrate HED systems into armoured vehicles, Abri du Plessis, the company’s chief executive, said.

“The synergy reiterates NIMR’s consistent efforts to bring to market the latest technologies and push the boundaries of military innovation to meet the evolving operational requirements of our customers,” he added.

Nimr, which is part of Abu Dhabi defence conglomerate Edge, currently exports to nine countries, including Saudi Arabia and other nations in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The company has two plants – one in Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi and the other in Al Ain. It also has a plant in Algeria that produces vehicles that cater to the North African country’s market.

Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are producing more military equipment locally to build capabilities and diversify economies away from hydrocarbons.

Singapore's ST Engineering is a group with interests in aerospace, marine, security and smart cities technology. It had revenue of $7.87 billion Singaporean dollars ($6bn) in 2019.

“The hybrid system will prove to be an asset in military operations where speed and stealth count. In addition to enhanced mobility, it is both efficient and built to support the energy requirements for future technologies,” Dr Lee Shiang Long, president and head of land systems at ST Engineering, said.

“Originally designed for commercial applications, our HED system, which we intend to integrate on Nimr’s military vehicle, is testimony to our engineering and design capabilities,” he added.