SPAIN is currently far too reliant on resources from other countries to generate its electricity.
This, it would no doubt add if it was PR-sensible, is madness.
See, Spain has a tremendous resource of its own, that it is currently shamefully underplaying: the sun.
Things will change in the future. Spain want most of its electricity to be ‘home-grown’. by harnessing the sun. Solar power is going to be big news in Spain – and with this comes a shift to electric cars.
Set to play a prime role in this future is native VW Group owned car maker SEAT. Already, we’re seeing electric-thinking concepts such as the IBE, and a plug-in hybrid Leon TwinDrive is promised for 2014.
TwinDrive means plug-in hybrid, with rear-mounted lithium-ion batteries powering a 35kW electric motor, for a 50km EV range. Over this, a combustion engine takes over.
SEAT EV spark
There’s something equally significant afoot right now, though. Martorell is where all SEATs are built. Soon, the entire roof of this massive factory will be covered in, yes, solar panels.
320,000 square metres of them, no less. With 10Mw capacity, that’s enough to annually generate 13 million KWh of electricity a year.
Sounds a lot? Yup: enough to power 3000 homes, and negate 6200 tonnes’ CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. It’s to be one of the biggest ‘integrated photovoltaic’ developments in Europe, and the €17m project is underway as you read this.
Longer-term, it could mean SEAT will offset the energy required to produce its cars, by generating its own electricity.
And to think some say the car industry isn’t doing its bit…
+ Know of any surprise green schemes from car firms?
+ Are SEAT’s plans viable?
+ Learn about the basics of EVs
