New technology which will cut the time it takes to charge an electric vehicle in half has been revealed by a British engineering firm.

And not only that, the business has received an order said to be worth $2.7 billion from "an unnamed OEM".

Delphi Technologies, which has a major base at Stonehouse near Stroud, claims to be the first volume producer of what it calls an 800-volt silicon carbide (SiC) inverter, one of the key components of highly efficient next-generation electric and hybrid vehicles.

The new inverter enables electrical systems up to 800 volts, "significantly extending electric vehicle (EV) range and halving charging times when compared with today's state-of-the-art 400-volt systems", according to the US-owned company.

"Doubling the voltage from today's typical 400 volts brings a substantial range of benefits, both for the vehicle user and for the vehicle manufacturer," said Richard F. Dauch, chief executive officer, Delphi Technologies.

"We have designed this technology to simplify vehicle manufacturers' multi-voltage strategies as they extend their electric and hybrid vehicle ranges."

It is estimated that up to 45 percent of global vehicle production will be electrified by 2025, with around 46 million electrified vehicles being sold annually, rising to up to 57 percent by 2030 (around 62 million vehicles annually).

Inverters are one of the highest-value electrification components and their efficiency has an industry-changing impact on many aspects of vehicle performance.

Launch of the new technology is expected in 2022, initially for a high-performance vehicle operating at up to 800 volts.

A few days ago, Delphi Technologies also announced it would be partnering with Cree, a leader in SiC semiconductors, to enable the next generation of EVs to drive longer distances, have faster charging times and improved efficiency.