Electric vehicles in Spain and Portugalare set to benefit from a new collaboration between Volkswagen Group member SEAT, Ficosa and Sanyo; which will focus on the development of batteries for the region.
The agreement will see the three companies study and prove the technical feasibility and technology of batteries for both the SEAT and Volkswagen plants in the Iberian Peninsula. Sanyo will develop the cells and battery pack; while Ficosa will look at the assembly process of the batteries.
Ficosa is considered a leader in the development and production of vehicle components and systems with a focus on electric vehicles, hybrid communication systems and intelligent systems that help the driver. Meanwhile, Sanyo supplies NiMH batteries for hybrid electric vehicles that have been developed by Volkswagen; while also carrying out the implementation of the next generation of batteries with car manufacturers.
According to SEAT president James Muir, the partnership is a “major breakthrough in the bid for the development of SEAT alternative vehicles.” The company has been working on a number of green cars including the prototype IBE 2.0 and the plug-in hybrid SUV IBx, the latter of which appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
