SEAT presents its electric car project to Spanish government

Seat Leon Twin Drive EV Prototype

By Thami Masemola
January 13, 2009 2:54 PM
Filed Under: Electric Vehicle, European, Seat

SEAT has begun working on a future consisting of sustainable electrically-driven vehicles. The SEAT brand is presenting its electric car project to the Spanish government during a special event held at the SEAT Technical Centre. Based on the León, this prototype runs on a lithium-ion battery which is used during urban trips and an internal combustion engine that kicks in for longer journeys.

Power is 35kW (47hp) and the car is capable of a self-imposed 100km/h top speed. The prototype currently has a range of only 50km based on a full battery charge, an area which SEAT admits needs a lot of improvement if the first production cars are to be made available by its 2014 deadline. SEAT hopes to eventually produce vehicles that are fully electric-powered, don't produce harmful emissions and are not bad for the environment.

SEAT was represented at the event by Francisco García Sanz, a member of Volkswagen's Executive committee and Chairman of SEAT's Board of Directors. The Chairman of SEAT Erich Schmitt was also present. Government representation was in the form of Miguel Sebastián, Spanish Minister for Industry, Tourism and Business as well as local and municipal government dignitaries.

Source: SEAT

Press Release (Click to expand)

SEAT presents its electric car project to Spanish government

The electrically-powered prototype presented shows the potential of the Twin Drive traction for a compact range vehicle.

This technology uses electrical power in urban circuits, combined with a combustion engine for interurban trips, with no range restriction.

The first units could be available from 2014.

Today SEAT presented an electrically-driven vehicle prototype on which the Spanish brand is currently working to Miguel Sebastián, Spanish minister for Industry, Tourism and Business. The SEAT project is an electrically-powered León Twin Drive Ecomotive vehicle equipped with a lithium-ion battery for urban circuits, connected ingeniously to an internal combustion engine for interurban trips, with optimum consumption level.The presentation was made at the SEAT Technical Centre, and was also attended by Antoni Soy, the Catalan government (Generalitat)’s Secretary for Industry and Business as well as the mayors of the municipalities where SEAT’s facilities are located.Representing SEAT were Francisco García Sanz, member of Volkswagen’s Executive committee and Chairman of SEAT’s Board of Directors, and Erich Schmitt, Chairman of SEAT. García Sanz highlighted the importance of this vehicle from the point of view of investment made, not only in environmental terms, but also in the future of the company. “Whereas half-way through the last century we made a decisive contribution to putting a whole generations on wheels, today, 50 years on, we also want to be leading players at the beginning of a process of development and industrialization of this type of car which combines an electric power unit with an internal combustion engine”.None the less, he also underlined the need to involve all stakeholders in order to guarantee sustainable driving in the future: “Product technology by itself is no guarantee for success. The implication of electricity utility companies as well as the clear support from governments is crucial in order to assure mobility and autonomy for the users”. The plan, with a time-scale stretching to 2014, is designed to carry out research, within the field of ‘plug-in’ hybrid propulsion, into the gradual phasing-out of the use of the internal combustion engine so as to launch onto the market SEAT models with very low consumption and environmentally-friendly CO2 emission levels. Later on, the different representatives were provided with a description of the technical aspects of the SEAT León Twin Drive Ecomotive project; the Spanish government’s Minister for industry was taken for a test drive in the vehicle. TECHNICHAL INFORMATION
SEAT León Twin Drive Ecomotive project, the first stepThe Spanish brand’s first electrically-driven car prototype is based on a León in which the traditional combustion engine has been replaced by an electric one. Likewise, certain elements such as the gearbox, power braking, heating and cooling systems, and a substantial part of the electronics have also been modified. The engine is fed by a group of lithium-ion batteries located at the rear of the vehicle, providing sustainable power of 35 kW and a self-imposed top speed of 100 kph. This prototype will allow the Spanish brand’s engineers to carry out research into the specific features of electrical propulsion and above all how to improve on one of its main drawbacks – quick battery recharging and range, which, in the case of the current vehicle, is 50 kms. The Twin Drive Ecomotive project is a first step towards a 100% electric car, and consists of the development of a hybrid vehicle combining the well-tested efficiency of SEAT’s Ecomotive cars with the advantages offered by electrical propulsion. Thus, a drastic reduction of CO2 emissions will be achieved, combined with noteworthy performance and range. With its Ecomotive range, SEAT already offers its clients the Ibiza Ecomotive with emissions of 98g/km of CO2, the León Ecomotive (119 g/km), and the Alhambra Ecomotive (159 g/km). For the record, two of the models, the Ibiza and the Alhambra, are the vehicles have the lowest emission levels for their respective segments.