The unit uses proven components to aid reliability, and Hyperdrive said it can be used in cars, light commercial vehicles and marine applications, as well as providing a backup power source for battery chargers on breakdown vehicles.

Hyperdrive managing director, Stephen Irish, said: ‘We believe this product is the perfect way to overcome the hurdle of range anxiety and it is further evidence that the North East is producing innovative solutions to achieve a low carbon future.’

The project project received a £277,331 financial backing from the Collaborative Projects Fund, launched in North East England last year, which provides grant funding through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund programme.

Its 20bhp diesel engine is designed to run at set speeds, powering a generator and maintaining battery charge then turning off when not required to save fuel. In turn, this allows electric vehicles to have smaller battery packs without range anxiety becoming a concern.

Irish added: ‘We aim to have the unit developed, assembled and tested  in the North East and sold world-wide, generating additional jobs and revenue for the region. This is an unusual product aimed at the smaller, light weight end of the power spectrum which we see as being of enormous interest to niche applications.’