SEAT unveils first all-electric car and PHEV

the Altea XL Electric and the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive vehicles. Click to enlarge.

SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen Group, is unveiling the prototype Altea XL Electric Ecomotive as well as the prototype Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive, a plug-in hybrid. 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.

The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive features an 85 kW motor with 270 N·m of torque and a limited top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). The batteries are located under the rear seats and in the trunk; there is no intrusion into the passenger compartment. 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.

The new SEAT Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive offers a range of 52 kilometers (32 miles) in full electric mode, with a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph). In combined mode (electrical plus combustion) the consumption forecast is 1.7 liters of fuel () and 18.5 kWh per 100 km (138 mpg US), the equivalent of 39 g/km of CO₂, with a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph).

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 information on use of the cars for assessment with a view to mass production of electric vehicles in the medium-term.

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.

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.

—SEAT President James Muir

The announcement of the launch of the first electric vehicles coincides with the start of a major new product offensive—SEAT will launch four new models over the next 12 months, the first being SEAT’s new urban vehicle, the Mii.

Source: Green Car Congress

SEAT, Ficosa and Sanyo join forces to develop batteries for electric vehicles in Spain and Portugal

Volkswagen Group member SEAT, Ficosa and Sanyo have signed an agreement to promote the development of batteries for electric vehicles in Spain and Portugal. The strategic agreement includes that the three companies will study and prove the technical feasibility and technology of manufacture of batteries for SEAT and Volkswagen plants in the Iberian Peninsula.

Sanyo will develop the cells and the battery pack and make the cells and Ficosa will address the assembly process of the batteries in Viladecavalls facilities (Barcelona) to provide for the SEAT and Volkswagen factories in Spain and Portugal.

To SEAT president James Muir, this partnership represents “a major breakthrough in the bid for the development of SEAT alternative vehicles. The Volkswagen Group is promoting hybrid and electric vehicles at high speed and SEAT, as a member of the consortium is involved in this strategy.”

In October 2010 at the Paris Motor Show, SEAT introduced the prototype IBE 2.0; SEAT has also developed the concept car IBx, a plug-in hybrid SUV that appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Ficosa is a leader in the development and production of vehicle components and systems worldwide. Its main strategic areas of innovation are the development of systems for electric vehicles and / or hybrid communication systems and intelligent systems help the driver. Ficosa is a pioneer in the automotive sector in Spain in the development of packaging systems, electronic control and management of electric vehicle batteries and / or hybrids.

The company, in line with its strategic focus on sustainability, actively participates in several cooperative research projects related to electromobility in Europe (POLLUX, led by Spain and Europe by Artemis platform), Spain (Cenit VERDE, led SEAT and promoted by the Ministry of Science and Innovation) and Catalonia (BATTMAN, promoted by the Generalitat of Catalonia and the EC).

Sanyo supplies NiMH batteries for hybrid electric vehicles developed by Volkswagen and also carries out the implementation of the next generation of NiMH and Li-ion batteries with car manufacturers—for example, Volkswagen Group.

Source: Green Car Congress