The manufacturer is developing both technologies for a production car in the coming years, and has already loaned electric Altea XL test vehicles to Spanish utility company Endesa and the Catalan Energy Institute for similar trials. Both companies will receive the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive plug-in hybrid within weeks.

Ramón Paredes executive vice-president for governmental and institutional relations at SEAT and the Volkswagen Group in Spain said: ‘Once more SEAT is showing its links to emblematic projects such as development of the electric car for the future of the country. We are the only brand with the capacity to think through, develop and produce an electric vehicle in Spain.’ 

SEAT and Barcelona City Hall have also renewed their LIVE (Logistics for the Implementation of the Electric Vehicle) project, in which Endesa and Siemens are involved, aimed at boosting EV uptake in the city.

Dr. Matthias Rabe, SEAT executive vice-president for R&D, commented: “Delivering these electric vehicles to institutional fleets covers a new stage in our electric motoring strategy. SEAT’s future is electric and we are opting for diversification of alternative technologies so as to cater to different motoring needs.’