Škoda Beta
The Tatra Beta was an project of electric van, using nickel-cadmium batteries. This electric car was originally created by Škoda ELCAR Ejpovice, and they were also initially manufactured under the Škoda brand. At that time, the production was directly connected to the production of the, derived from the Škoda Favorit.
Overview
The car was produced from 1994 to 1999. Beta has a tube-frame and in-mass-coloured fiberglass body panels. Some parts were taken from the 120 L and Favorit and from the Škoda Pick-Up. In 1996 the petrol version with Škoda's 1.3 engines also started to be produced. The original electric drive provided an asynchronous electric motor with maximum power of developed by Škoda Elcar or by the University of Maribor. It was powered via a frequency converter from a set of 30 pieces of Ni-Cd batteries. SAFT batteries type STM after 6V had a capacity of 100 Ah. Models equipped with them reached a top speed of 110 km/h and covered per charge.The production of the electric versions was not started. Only about 5 prototypes was made. From the beginning of the project, a version powered by the Škoda 781.135B internal petrol engine was also envisaged. Škoda ended the partnersip with independent company Škoda Elcar and new partner had to be found. Only 100 Škoda Favorit based Beta were produced, a few of them electric.
New partner was found in 1995, when acooperation with the Korean carmaker Hyundai Motors has begun. New company was found - Škoda Tatra s.r.o in Příbor. The car got a Hyundai powertrain, dashboard with instruments and also the entire interior, including the brakes from the Hyundai Accent. Rear axle is rigid with leaf springs and Accent brakes. In total, only about 366 Tatra BETA with Hyundai parts were produced.
Since 1997, various modifications of the Beta have been built as prototypes: flatbed, box-van or pick-up.
The economic results were poor and the project was terminated in 1999.
Today is known only one Beta EL in the Czech republic and one in Slovakia. There are three in Sweden. By the czech MOT is registred about 100 Beta vans and a few of them are drivable.