Business Secretary Lord Mandelson underlined his commitment to low carbon vehicles as he took the driving seat of the world’s first high-performance electric van.

Produced in the UK, the Smith Ampere houses the latest electric vehicle technology in the familiar framework of the Ford Transit Connect van.

The 50 kilowatt electric motor and 28 kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries combine to deliver a top speed of 70mph and a range of 100 miles on a single charge.

Darren Kell, chief executive of The Tanfield Group, which owns Smith Electric Vehicles, said: “Lord Mandelson is determined that the UK will become the world leader in low-carbon vehicle technologies, so it was pleasing to show him that Smith Electric Vehicles is already a world leader in electric vans and trucks.

“With the appropriate Government support, we could transform this exciting opportunity into a UK-based industry.”