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SEAT is working on its first
electric car designed, developed
and manufactured in Spain. The
firm is unveiling the prototype
Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, a
totally electrically-driven
zero-emissions car, as well as
the prototype Leon TwinDrive
Ecomotive, a plug-in hybrid.
Over the next few months the
Spanish car maker will make
available units of both models
to government institutions in
Catalonia and Madrid for use in
their vehicle fleets. This will
provide SEAT with valuable
information on use of the cars
for assessment with a view to
mass production of electric
vehicles in the medium-term.
SEAT envisages the launch of its
first electric plug-in hybrid
car in 2015, to be followed a
year later by an all-electric
vehicle.
SEAT’s strategy is to commit to
a wide range of alternative
technologies. To this end the
Spanish manufacturer is
unveiling two different but
complementary models at the same
time.
SEAT President James Muir said:
‘Customers demand a more
sustainable form of mobility,
but their needs are diverse.
Therefore, we believe that a
parallel strategy of developing
two different technologies will
put SEAT in the best position to
meet their needs.’
The announcement of the launch
of the first electric vehicles
coincides with the start of the
biggest new product offensive
SEAT has known. The company
will launch four new models over
the next 12 months, the first
being SEAT’s smart new urban
vehicle – the Mii.
Electromobility, a team
effort
The future of electromobility in
Spain depends not only on
vehicles but also their
components such as batteries, as
well as a recharging
infrastructure. For this reason
SEAT – the number one industrial
investor in R&D in Spain – is
heading the CENIT VERDE
project. This
public-private-partnership
between manufacturers,
universities, research centres
and the Spanish Ministry of
Science and Innovation is taking
a holistic research approach to
making the electric vehicle a
reality in Spain.
The Altea XL Electric
Ecomotive, SEAT’s first electric
car
The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive
blazes the trail for
electromobility in Spain. As
with all its vehicles, SEAT
guarantees driving pleasure with
an engine producing 115 hp (85
kW) and 270 Nm of torque. This
translates into a limited top
speed of 135 kph. With its
roomy passenger compartment and
generous boot, the electric
Altea XL is equally suitable for
family transport or company use.
By
intelligent location of the
batteries under the rear seats
and the boot, there is no
intrusion into the passenger
compartment. A sophisticated
regeneration system with
adjustable braking torque
optimises energy use. And when
the electric Altea XL is parked
in the sun, rooftop photovoltaic
cells recirculate fresh air
inside the passenger
compartment, reducing the energy
needed afterwards by the climate
control system.
Dr
Matthias Rabe, SEAT S.A.
Executive Vice-president for
R&D, said: ‘SEAT has its
electric future assured. With
the electric Altea XL we are
showing just how mature our
technology is.’
He
added: ‘The electric Altea XL
was an intentionally studied
choice for the first fleet. It
will enable us to experiment
with a wide variety of uses.’
Leon TwinDrive, an
all-purpose car
The new SEAT Leon TwinDrive
Ecomotive is a ground-breaking
concept in the field of plug-in
hybrids, combining the advantage
of emission-free driving with
the range of a traditional
internal combustion
engine-equipped vehicle.
In
full electric mode the TwinDrive
has a range of 52 kilometres,
with a top speed of 120 kph. In
combined mode (electrical plus
combustion) the consumption
forecast is only 1.7 litres of
fuel and 18.5 kWh per 100 kms,
the equivalent of a rock-bottom
39 g/km of CO2, with
a top speed of 170 kph.
Dr
Rabe said: ‘The Leon TwinDrive
Ecomotive is an exciting and
ground-breaking solution.
Technically, it allows you to
drive in all-electric mode,
while at the same time enjoying
smart hybrid drive.
‘Thanks to its great range, none
of our customers will need to
change their lifestyle or
transport habits.’
The Ecomotive family,
low-emission mobility
Of
course, the Altea XL Electric
Ecomotive and Leon TwinDrive
Ecomotive do not constitute
SEAT’s first venture into the
field of sustainable mobility
and commitment to environmental
protection. The Spanish brand
has a long track record in the
manufacture of low-emission
vehicles. More than 60% of
vehicles marketed by SEAT in
Spain and almost half (47%) of
all SEATs sold in the UK this
year have emission levels below
130 g/km of CO2.
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