SEAT’s electric car sharing pilot begins in Barcelona

SEAT has launched its pilot car sharing service in Barcelona with a fleet of electric SEAT eMii prototypes.

The vehicles will be used by more than 1,000 employees of the SEAT Metropolis:Lab Barcelona and the Pier 01 Barcelona Tech City, the benchmark hub for Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As well as sharing the eMiis, they also share expertise and workspace.

A mobile app reserves vehicles with a single click and a digital key is then provided for the driver to access the vehicle.

When the vehicle is returned to the carpark, the driver plugs it in. Charging takes 8 hours to charge at the slow recharging points, and 35 minutes at the fast charge points. Once the process is complete, the eMii has a total range of around 100 miles.

Sergi Vila, who is responsible for Operations and Finance at the SEAT Metropolis: Lab Barcelona, and a regular user of the fleet of eMiis: “It’s practical and ideal for the city. I usually take one to attend meetings in Barcelona. When I return it, another colleague can reserve it and take it out.”

The data provided by the fleet of eMiis will be added to the research and development of technologies for SEAT’s research into future mobility.