Spanish car brand SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen Group, has taken its latest prototype to the Spanish Government as it bids to produce an electric vehicle that can transform the way the country drives.
The company has produced an electrically powered Leon Twin Drive Ecomotive vehicle with a lithium-ion battery that is connected to an internal combustion engine with interurban trips for optimum consumption level. The prototype is part of SEAT’s Global Sustainable Mobility Plan for 2014, in which it hopes to gradually phase out the internal combustion engine.
The presentation took place at the SEAT Technical Centre and was attended by Miguel Sebastian, Spanish minister for Industry, Tourism and Business, along with Antoni Soy, the Catalan government secretary for Industry and business.
The prototype is based on a Leon but using a 35kW motor. Several parts have been modified including the gearbox, power braking and cooling systems with the battery pack located at the rear of the vehicle.
The car is capable of achieving a top speed of 62mph and boasts quick battery recharging and an all-electric range of 31 miles.
SEAT already has several green cars in its fleet including the Ibiza Ecomotive, which has CO2 emissions at a measly 98g/km and the Leon Ecomotive at 119g/km. Now it hopes that the Twin Drive Ecomotive, which represents the development of a hybrid car, will be its first step towards the production of a 100 per cent electric car.
