Just transition of the Irish Midlands Region, through actions such as diversifying the regional economy and creating new jobs, plays a big role in the Peatlands and People project. With the company spotlight campaign, we aim to highlight some of the innovative and successful initiatives that were part of Peatland & People’s Accelerate Green programme - the first Irish accelerator focusing on low-carbon and circular economies to support the Irish Midlands region economically. From circularity-driven food models to renewable energy solutions, learn more about the creative minds and companies that drive change in the Irish Midlands and beyond.

Introducing “Hibra Design”

The Cork-based specialist engineering company Hibra Design has set itself the important mission to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles while simultaneously increasing their efficiency and power.

Founder Mike Keane has spent his 25 year career developing vehicles for international, blue-chip manufacturers such as Ford, Jaguar and Land-Rover. Since 2011, he has been developing battery electric solutions for road and commercial vehicles. These years of experience have made him aware of an unmet need in the electrification of industrial vehicle applications.

“Whereas road vehicles have had a strong movement towards battery electric developments, industrial vehicles have typically remained reliant on internal-combustion powertrains. With Hibra Design, we wanted to change this.”

Mike’s career and personal journey have always been driven by a strong environmental conscience, so the founding of Hibra Design felt to him like an important next step in changing the status quo of industrial vehicles. Industrial vehicles are engineered to be able to complete the most arduous and longest continuous operational cycles. The assumption so far in this sector has been that these runtimes can only be serviced by fossil-fuel-powered engines.

Hibra Design is challenging this assumption by developing full ground-up, bespoke vehicles and by re-engineering existing ones with clean-technology powertrain systems for a variety of sectors from agriculture to industry and aviation. The company’s solutions deliver energy efficiency on multiple fronts. By combining detailed analysis of real-world operational requirements with deep technical expertise in electric powertrains, Hibra Design is able to develop electric solutions for applications where no viable options currently exist on the market.

The process begins with data. Mike explains that whether Hibra Design is developing a bespoke vehicle or re-engineering an existing one, success depends on a precise understanding of how the vehicle is actually used in operation. To achieve this, Hibra Design has developed a proprietary software platform that analyses real-world operational data and defines the battery-electric powertrain specifications required to meet those demands. Hibra Design’s clients can gain direct access to this software for their own operational analysis.

Aside from clean power technology, Hibra Design delivers energy efficiency in other areas, such as through the design of robust and durable lightweight solutions. The team has strong experience and know-how in a full suite of vehicle engineering. For example, their expertise in aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, enables them to reduce the wind resistance acting on vehicles, thus reducing the fuel or energy consumption irrespective of whether the vehicle uses battery electric or fossil-fuel technology. In all of its operations, Hibra Design acts with the benefits of a circular economy in mind - solutions are designed with a constant eye on what can be reduced, repaired, reused and repurposed.

Accelerate Green came at the right time for the young business. The programme widened Hibra Design’s network to other sustainability-focused companies and helped discover new supply partners suited to Hibra Design’s needs. Most importantly, Accelerate Green also introduced the company to Bord Na Mona, who subsequently engaged Hibra Design to develop the BETR programme (Boglands Electric Tractor Reengineering). Through this programme, Hibra Design developed and deployed Ireland’s first fully operational electric tractor for use in Sphagnum moss planting.

Hibra and Ireland's Climate Action Plan

Designed to support Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, the Peatlands and People project aims to deliver progress toward key targets across agriculture, forestry and land use, just transition and the circular economy. The companies supported through the Accelerate Green programme are set out to support this goal, and so is Hibra Design.

Among its objectives, the Climate Action Plan 2025 aims to reduce CO₂ emissions and other waste products, while the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive focuses on increasing the proportion of vehicle materials that are reused or recycled.

By re-engineering existing vehicles and designing in line with Circular Economy principles, Hibra Design improves Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across multiple beneficiaries simultaneously. This approach uniquely positions the company to align with—and directly support—government strategy and policy.

Long-term Company Vision

Having just completed its 3rd year of trading, Hibra Design has great plans for the future beyond Irish borders, making use of its already strong international network of customers. The company is currently working on the development of two different industrial vehicles for applications in Europe and the Middle East and is developing a swappable high-voltage battery solution for a South African public transport project. For 2026, the company aims to broaden its product spectrum to a new, exciting area - developing high-performance electric road vehicles.

For businesses seeking customised vehicle solutions, Hibra Design provides a user-friendly platform via its website, www.hibra.ie, where clients can access detailed information and schedule complimentary consultations.