Emission-free Range Rover

The world’s first zero emission, electric 4x4s are to be manufactured by Liberty Electric Cars in Cramlington, Northumberland later this year.

The Oxford-based company has signed an agreement with regional development agency, One North East, to invest £30m into the production of electric vehicles. The project is expected to create 250 new manufacturing jobs and contribute over £120m a year to the local economy.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North East, said: ‘This investment is excellent news for the region and places north east England at the forefront of electric vehicle manufacture and infrastructure development.

‘The decision by Liberty Electric Cars to establish a north east manufacturing base reflects its confidence in the region's skills base and the work we are doing to create an electric charging point infrastructure across the north east to allow electric vehicles to operate to their full potential.'

According to the company, its energy storage and management system technology delivers a better performance compared with existing technology. Electric vehicles have 80 per cent lower running costs than petrol cars and are able to deliver 90 per cent efficiency, compared to 25 per cent from a conventional petrol engine.