The SEAT Toledo Eléctrico is closely related to the Barcelona '92 Olympic Games. SEAT was a partner of this global sporting event and so it undertook the challenge of developing a zero emissions version of the Toledo to lead the marathon athletes.

SEAT's Toledo was the newest car of the brand, launched in 1991, and the first one produced by the Spanish company under the Volkswagen Group, so it was the ideal model for such a project.

SEAT developed the Toledo Eléctrico in just a few months in the Technical Center at Martorell (the current SEAT factory was being built nearby and would be opened the following year). The car was the first SEAT not powered by an internal combustion engine.

SEAT produced the car at the request of the Olympic Games' organizing committee to fulfil the rules of the marathon running race, which stipulated that it had to be opened by a zero emissions car.

So SEAT's engineers fitted a Toledo GLX with a 16 kW (22 HP) DC motor, though it could reach up to 22 kW (30 HP) under acceleration. It had a top speed of 100 km/h and was capable of going from a standing start to 30 km/h in 5 seconds, and to 50 km/h in 12 seconds.

At this speed of 50 km/h, it had a range of 80 kilometres, reduced to 65 kilometres at 70 km/h and to 55 kilometres in city driving. Modest figures, but more than enough to fulfil its function at the marathon race. The SEAT Toledo Eléctrico was registered and also went with the Olympic torch relay on the way to the Montjuïc stadium, where the event started on July 25, 1992.

As for the power supply, it was made of a 16 lead battery pack located at the rear, under the rear seats and the boot. They weighed 500 kilos, so the car's total weight increased from 1.015 to 1.545 kilos. The electric Toledo used the original gearbox and clutch unit, but the increased weight meant the suspension, steering and brakes had to be reinforced.

A motor controller adjusted the electrical voltage according to the throttle position. If the temperature in the engine bay exceeded 120º, a limit was placed on the maximum current and on the speed, no more than 60 km/h.

Behind the front grille there is a 220 V power outlet to plug the car into regular mains. The Toledo Eléctrico also recovers energy under braking, whereby the generator returns up to 60 A to the batteries.

The Toledo Eléctrico is very easy to drive. You only have to connect the safety switch, start the car using the key and accelerate. Then you can put first gear and drive. The only precaution is to regularly check the battery charge dial and recharge it when it reaches 20%. Oh, and it's best not to wash it in a car wash!

After the Olympic Games, the SEAT Toledo Eléctrico Olímpico was shown in the SEAT stand at the Paris Motorshow, together with the Concepto T concept-car. Of course, the progress of electric technology has dwarfed its figures, but in 1992 it was an important project, which proved the technical means and ability of SEAT's Technical Center.

Development of electric vehicles in the Technical Center continued over the following years with other prototypes based on the Ibiza and the Inca van, the 2010 IBE all-electric prototype and a short series of electric Alteas XL, which were handed over to institutions. All that culminated in the unveiling in 2019 of SEAT's el-Born, a preview of the first fully electric production SEAT or CUPRA designed from scratch as an electric vehicle.