Seat has unveiled prototype Altea XL Electric Ecomotive and hybrid Leon Twindrive Ecomotive models which will be used in fleet tests in California and Spain. The VW Group brand has also announced that it intends to put a hybrid into production in 2015, followed by its first all-electric vehicle in 2016.

The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive has an 85kW motor with 270 Nm of torque and a top speed of 84mph (135km/h). It has photovoltaic cells on its roof, the electricity they generate being used to circulate cooling air inside the passenger cabin to reduce air conditioning demand.

The Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive has an electric-only range of 52km and a top speed of 75mph (120km/h). In combined mode (electrical plus combustion) Seat claims the Leon TwinDrive uses 1.7 litres of fuel and 18.5 kWh per 100km, generating 39 g/km of CO2, with a top speed of 106mph (170km/h).

"Customers demand a more sustainable form of mobility, but their needs are diverse," said Seat president James Muir. "We believe that a parallel strategy of developing two different technologies will put SEAT in the best position to meet their needs."

Seat is heading the Cenit Verde project, a public/private partnership between manufacturers, universities, research centres and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation which is researching the development of electric vehicles and infrastructure in Spain.