Four-wheel drive and camping enthusiasts demand reliable equipment. There is a lot of touring gear on the market that makes big claims but fails when you need it most. We know the frustration of relying on a product that over-promises and under-delivers. At Durst, we engineer industrial power equipment for the harshest environments. We have taken the exact technology used to start massive mining equipment and engineered it into a compact unit. If you are looking for a reliable 4WD jump starter, the rules have changed. The solution does not rely on a battery at all.
Mining-grade reliability
Durst Industries is a Sydney engineering company. We have been manufacturing industrial power equipment since 1918, building battery chargers, ground power units and load testers. In 2021, we introduced our industrial HYPASTART jump starters to mining sites globally.
These are heavy-duty tools designed to start 250-tonne haul trucks and massive diesel engines in remote locations. When heavy machinery goes down on a mine site, the financial cost is enormous. The starting equipment must work the first time.
That reliability caught the attention of global heavy equipment manufacturers. Liebherr uses our technology to start their mobile crane fleet, and they said so publicly. Watch the technology in action:
A 4WD jump starter with no battery inside
We decided to bring this industrial technology to the consumer market. We created the HYPASTART X500 12V jump starter for four-wheel drives, camping set-ups, campervans and marine use. It offers mining-grade reliability at a price ordinary buyers can afford.
The core difference between this device and everything else on the shelves is what sits inside the casing. The HYPASTART X500 contains no battery. Instead, it stores energy in supercapacitors, which are also known as ultra-capacitors.
Batteries rely on a chemical reaction that degrades over time and is highly sensitive to temperature. Supercapacitors store energy in a static state, allowing them to discharge massive amounts of power instantly and recharge in a fraction of the time. The X500 delivers up to 1200A peak current, starting most cars, four-wheel drives, motorbikes and boats.
The problem with lithium
Most modern jump packs use lithium-ion batteries. While they are lightweight, they carry real risks for touring and camping.
When travelling long distances, the interior of a locked vehicle can reach extreme temperatures. Lithium batteries do not cope well with severe heat. A lithium jump starter fire is a very real danger in these conditions. Lithium cells are prone to thermal runaway, a chain reaction that causes the battery to rapidly overheat. It is not uncommon for a lithium unit to catch fire and burn a vehicle to the ground.
Safety aside, there is the frustration of finding a unit completely flat when you finally need it. Lithium batteries slowly lose their charge while sitting in a glovebox or storage drawer. If you forget to charge it at home every few months, it will let you down.
Because the HYPASTART X500 has no lithium cells, it suffers from none of these problems. There is no risk of lithium thermal runaway. It is safe to leave in a sweltering hot vehicle and provides strong starting power in freezing cold conditions. Its service life is measured in years rather than seasons.
Capacitor jump starter vs lithium
When comparing a capacitor jump starter vs lithium, the most significant advantage becomes clear when you are stranded. The X500 performs a function that feels like magic.
If you wake up at your campsite to find your vehicle battery is too flat to turn the engine over, a traditional jump pack needs to be fully charged to help you. If your traditional pack is also flat, you are stuck. The HYPASTART X500 operates entirely differently. You connect it directly to your flat battery. Even when a battery cannot start a car, it still holds a small amount of residual energy. The supercapacitors draw that remaining power out of the flat battery and concentrate it. The unit charges itself from your flat battery, then pushes that energy back in a massive burst to start the vehicle.
Once the engine is running, you simply leave the unit connected for about a minute. The X500 recharges itself from the running vehicle. You can pack it away knowing it is ready for the next start. You never have to take it home and plug it into a wall charger.
On a long 4WD or camping journey, you get few chances to stop and charge your electronic gear. Equipment that manages its own power supply is essential. This unit just keeps working. It stops people getting stranded in remote areas and serves as potentially life-saving equipment.
Compact power for touring and camping
The transition from mining sites to your vehicle means you get professional features in a highly portable format. We built the X500 to be practical for everyday use. It features a built-in LED light to help you see what you are doing during a night recovery on a dark track.
It also features integrated safety protection. You do not need to be a mechanic or an auto electrician to use it, which gives you peace of mind when connecting the clamps in a stressful situation.
The Durst HYPASTART X500 12V jump starter brings top-tier engineering to the recreational market. We designed it specifically for adventure, touring, camping, marine applications, motorcycles and everyday vehicles. It represents a fundamental shift in how you prepare for a dead battery off the grid.
Frequently asked questions
Can a jump starter start a completely flat battery?
A battery can be too flat to crank an engine while still holding a small amount of residual energy. The HYPASTART X500 draws that remaining energy from the flat battery to charge its internal capacitors, then releases it in a massive surge to turn the engine over. If a battery has no usable energy left at all, that is a different situation and we do not claim otherwise.
Are lithium jump starters safe to leave in a hot car?
Leaving a lithium battery in a hot vehicle poses a real safety risk. The extreme heat inside a closed cabin can trigger thermal runaway, which may result in a severe fire. The HYPASTART X500 contains no lithium, so lithium thermal runaway is not a risk and it is safe to store in a hot vehicle year-round.
What size jump starter do I need for a 4WD?
A heavy diesel engine requires a high peak current to overcome the compression of the cylinders. A unit delivering up to 1200A peak current is well equipped to start most four-wheel drives, cars and boats. Check that the jump starter you choose is designed for your type of vehicle and use.
Does a supercapacitor jump starter need to be kept charged?
No. The X500 does not depend on holding a charge in storage. When you need it, it charges itself from the residual energy in your flat battery in a matter of minutes, then recharges from the vehicle once the engine is running.
Do I need to plug the jump starter into a wall to charge it?
You never need to plug this unit into a mains power outlet. It draws the power it requires from the flat battery it is attached to. After the vehicle starts, leaving the clamps connected for approximately one minute allows the running engine to recharge the capacitors for the next use.
