MANUFACTURING bosses are aiming to give a business a new dimension by helping revolutionise the electric vehicle market.

Carroll and Meynell Transformers is working on a prototype multi-charger it says will increase the number of vehicles able to simultaneously power up.

The firm, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, says existing points only support a single charge, meaning motorists must wait if the equipment is in use.

However, it has now received an initial 50,000 euros (£37,000) grant from a European innovation programme, and says it could have a product ready in two years to service various marques.

The electric vehicle sector is growing rapidly across Europe, with Sunderland-based Nissan’s Leaf hatchback recording the highest battery-powered sales across the continent last year.

Peter McGurr, commercial manager, told The Northern Echo: “We are very excited about this.

“It’s something we have been working on for quite some time and really could bring a new dimension to our whole operation.

“It has the potential to be groundbreaking new technology for the electric vehicle industry.”

Mr McGurr said the situation with charger points mirrored frustrations felt by mobile phone users.

He added: “If you pull into a charging station, there’s no guarantee of a suitable point being available.

“This doesn’t look likely to change rapidly, since car makers aren’t working together on a common approach, and it’s similar to that of mobile users when trying to borrow a charger.

“However, our product will be capable of providing re-charge simultaneously to multiple vehicles of potentially different designs and different charging requirements.”

Carroll and Meynell has operated for more than 40 years and employs 120 staff.

Run by managing director Mike Meynell, it supplies transformers, which are electrical devices used to change voltages, with its products used on subsea remotely-operated craft.

Mr Meynell said he believed it was the first in the region to have received a grant from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme.

He added: “This will be instrumental in driving our growth.

“From more than 2,600 applications across Europe, only 185 bids have been successful, and we are the only one in the North-East.”

The company was previously forced to go down to a four day week as it battled the effects of the recession.

However, bosses are now hoping to add to its 120-strong workforce after spending £1m on a 10,000sq ft warehouse and machinery to build on £9m annual sales.

It has also supplied projects in Chicago, Toronto and Kuala Lumpur and is well-known for its signalling transformers for the rail industry.

Such growth led to a visit from Chancellor George Osborne last year, who hailed its position as a strong regional exporter.

Speaking at the time, he said: “This company is an example of the good things happening in the North-East.

“It’s a medium-sized firm, but it is increasing regional exports around the world and we want to see more businesses doing that.”