Kreisel Electric, which develops and manufactures battery packs for vehicles and stationary storage, claims it can offer 20% more usable capacity than competitor products, with no size increase, DC charging at up to 140kW (three times the speed of most rapid chargers), and a lifespan of 250,000 miles.

As well as small-scale production for fleets, the technology is proven on several demonstrator projects, including an electric Porsche Panamera capable of 186mph and with an 85kWh battery – the same as a Tesla Model S – offering a 280-mile range.

Kreisel’s converted Volkswagen e-Golf features a 55.7kWh battery pack which is the same size and weight as the 24.2kWh unit fitted at the factory – the extra capacity results in a 267-mile range, compared to 120 miles for the standard car.

The fully-automated ‘3K One’ factory in Rainbach, Austria, will create 70 new jobs before it opens in March 2017, and it’s partially powered by a 200kW photovoltaic array on the roof with excess energy stored in the company’s stationary batteries.

The company said the factory is aimed at meeting global demand for high-voltage battery packs.