Széchenyi István University´s EV presented in Győr
Only half a year after the car´s design had been presented, Győr-based Széchenyi István University´s road-legal electric vehicle was unveiled to the public on May 22 with a registration plate on its rear end.
Cars are seldom presented on top of a building, but then an electric vehicle designed and financed by a Hungarian higher-educational institute is also not a very common sight either.
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| From left to right: Emeritus professor Imre Czinege, László Palkovics, professor and researcher at JKK, Péter Földesi, the Rector of Széchenyi István University, and József Bokor, director of the Research Center of Vehicle Industry (JKK) |
So then, there's nothing strange about the fact that the SZElectra, a road-legal electric vehicle designed by Széchenyi István University, was unveiled on top of Mobilis Exhibition Centre in Győr.
The first designs were presented in April and it was not merely the birth of a new model, but we witnessed a concept car becoming reality.
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| Zoltán Varga, director of electric and hybrid drives at JKK |
The vehicle is a manifestation of all automotive development work being carried out at the University, and the current model has not even reached its final stage. The laborious stages of design and production will be followed by testing, which will help tailor the electric car for use in the real world.
The presentation was attended by Péter Földesi, the Rector of Széchenyi István University, József Bokor, director of the Research Center of Vehicle Industry (JKK), László Palkovics, professor and researches at JKK, and emeritus professor Imre Czinege.
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| SZElectra unveiled in Győr - Gallery |
The significance of the event was further emphasised by the number of students attending the event, who have all contributed to the development and birth of this small electric car. Many of them had just returned home from Rotterdam, where they participated in the Shell Eco-marathon, the European competition for alternative fuel vehicles.
About the SZElectra
The mini EV has zero emmisions and is capable of six hours of travelling with one charge. It has a top speed of 80 km/h.
Despite a few main units, all of the electric car's components could be manufactured in Hungary, which poses a serious bid for the domestic industry. Development began in October 2013. The body, the 15-kW electric motor, the ECU and the battery pack with three 250 V batteries were all developed and built at JKK.
The EV was developed as a so-called open innovation project as opposed to the electric cars made by vehicle manufacturers. This means the vehicle can be used for testing certain equipment and developments which would otherwise not be possible in a mass-produced car.
