A LEADING County Durham green transport business is about to expand its operation after buying a new factory and revealing plans to build a two-seater sports car and a utility vehicle.

Consett-based Elecscoot began life in 2006 producing battery-assisted bicycles, and has gone on to become the UK’s leading producer of all-electric scooters and cycles.

Following the official launch this week of its E4 scooter that has a top speed of 60mph, the North-East company is about to double its workforce as it moves its Consett operation five miles away to a larger premises in Dipton, near Stanley.

The switch to the 26,000sq ft facility is due to be completed in February, and it will enable the firm to broaden its product range. A utility pick-up vehicle, the Etruck, is scheduled to go in to production early next year and an electric sports car that will sell for about £7,000 is also to be launched.

Elecscoot director Ian Allison said that while demand in the UK has been slower than he would have liked, a recent Government- sponsored trade mission to Europe had opened up potentially lucrative new markets, adding: “The move demonstrates the scale of our ambition. We have outgrown the Consett site and this felt like the right time to expand.

“The UK Trade and Investment sent us to a low-carbon vehicle event in Portugal and on the back of that we have signed terms with a dealer over there who will sell our vehicles.

“We also have other contracts in the pipeline. We are developing at an amazing rate.”