Skoda has begun production of a 10 car trial fleet of its first ever fully electric car, the Octavia E Line. It's the next step in Skoda's continued efforts to reduce emissions and consumption levels throughout the company.

The Octavia Green E Line is based on the series-production Octavia Estate as its modular floorpan design is ideal in terms of arranging batteries, electrical control units and electric motor.

The motor itself provides a constant 60kW of power, with a maximum peak of 85kW, with maximum torque of 270Nm available from standstill, so as not to catch pedestrians unawares, the Green E Line features a sound generator that simulates the noise of an engine at speeds of up to 25mph.

Free from the city limits, the Octavia Green E Line can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 12 seconds and is electronically limited to a top speed of 84mph.

With a 26.5kWh battery made of 180 lithium-ion cells, which weighs 315kg, the Octavia Green E Line has a range of 150km (93 miles), which is helped by a brake energy recovery system.

Electric drive is an integral part of Skoda's strategy for creating a range of vehicles that are as environmentally-friendly and safe as possible. As well as full electric, Škoda will also offer its customers a plug-in hybrid vehicle in the future.

“Emission-free mobility is one of our key goals for the future, and my opinion is that electric vehicles are the right answer to the increasingly stringent emission limits and the need to develop the automotive industry sustainable,” said Skoda Auto BOD member for technological development Dr Eckhard Scholz.

“Our strength lies in a combination of our highly competent and qualified technological development staff and the Volkswagen Group's extensive know-how, and I believe that it is exactly this combination that will enable us to develop an electric vehicle to be seen as a real step forward.”

The first Octavia Green E Lines will appear on the roads this autumn, with the driving data collated by its trial drivers collated to feed back into the continued research and development in this area.