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Hyperdrive Innovation, a company which supplies lithium-ion battery solutions, has announced it has become the first company to commercialise a product that is based on LEAF lithium-ion battery technology from Japanese automaker Nissan.

It has incorporated the new and used UK-made battery modules in its own new intelligent battery systems.

The company's intelligent battery systems can be deployed by automakers to power their hybrid or fully electric vehicles, as well as providing energy storage for backup or off-grid utility supplies. The first battery packs are being fitted into select off-highway vehicles and scalable energy storage systems for commercial and domestic markets.

Nissan's in-house battery technology is used by its range of electric vehicles. The automaker began manufacturing the battery and its LEAF electric cars at its Sunderland manufacturing facility in 2013.

Stephen Irish, managing director at Hyperdrive Innovation, said: "Making the Nissan LEAF technology available to ambitious UK businesses could have a major impact on the economy. Resurgent UK car manufacturers for example would have to spend millions of pounds to develop their own electric vehicle batteries. The ability to acquire world-leading technology and engineering support via Hyperdrive instead could give UK car manufacturers a significant head start in the race to deliver commercially successful electric vehicles."