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[ad#post_ad]Remember Saab? That's right, they used to be one of GM's brands before they were sold off to Spyker and the Swedish government in bankruptcy proceedings.

Now in an ironic twist of sorts, the new Saab has announced its own pure electric car.

It is called the Saab 9-3 ePower and as Saab reports is "the first practical family estate with all-electric propulsion." It will debut in the flesh at the upcoming Paris Motor Show

Saab will build a limited production run of 70 of these vehicles for a test fleet to be used in Sweden from 2011-2012. The car is a result of a co-operation between Saab Automobile, Boston Power (batteries), Electroengine in Sweden AB (electric power trains), Innovatum (project management) and Power Circle (Sweden’s electric power industry trade organization).

The vehicle will sit atop the "Phoenix Architecture" platform which will also underpin the next gen 9-3 and 9-5. These prototypes will eventually lead the way to future all electric medium and large sized sedans.

The ePower has a 35.5 kwh lithium ion battery pack designed to operate in especially old climates down to minus 30 degrees C, "at least 10 degrees C below the operating level of other battery packs on the market," claims Saab. It is air rather than liquid cooled, something Saab calls a "key benefit" by reducing weight and cost. The pack is designed to last for 10 years of regular use and can be recharged from 3 to 6 hours.  Saab claims the range will be 124 miles (200 km).

The battery sits in a tunnel in the floor of the car filling the space normally occupied by the fuel tank and exhaust system. Motivation is provided by a 135 kW/184 hp electric motor driving the front wheels through a single speed transmission. This configuration will allow a zero to 60 time of about 8,5 seconds and a top speed of 93 mph.

Hundreds of drivers and their families throughout Sweden will be enlisted to drive the 70 cars across a variety of real-world conditions, making the program similar to a smaller version of BMW's MINI E trial.

“This program is designed to evaluate the potential for developing a high performance, zero emission electric vehicle and is an important next-step in the extension of our EcoPower propulsion strategy,” says Mats Fägerhag, Executive Director, Vehicle Engineering at Saab Automobile. “This includes engine rightsizing, which exploits Saab expertise in turbocharging, as well as the use of alternative fuel, such as bio-ethanol through Saab BioPower technology.”

“By 2015, annual global sales of electric vehicles are expected to reach 500,000 units and Saab is determined to be represented in this important, growing segment," adds Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s CEO adds. “The 9-3 ePower program is our first step towards developing a potential production vehicle that will deliver the sort of advanced performance our customers expect. We now look forward to working with our technical partners in developing such a product.”

Source ( Saab )
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With a 35.5 KWh pack, I wonder what the range will be????

I want every manufacturer to have an electric vehicle for sale by 2015!!!!

The more choices thee are, the more people will accept this!


NPNS

 

The Leaf is advertised with a 24 kWh battery for a 100 mile range. It's motor is 80kW. If the Saab has a 35.5 kWh battery and a 135 kW motor, could we expect a range of 100 miles as well? The Saab is certainly prettier that the Leaf, but no one has come out with a design to top the Volt.

Just over two months to go. C'mon, GM, let's have ALL the specs!!

 

From article:

The car is a result of a co-operation between Saab Automobile, Boston Power (batteries), Electroengine in Sweden AB (electric power trains), Innovatum (project management) and Power Circle (Sweden’s electric power industry trade organization).


We need more of this type of cooperation here in the US. Especially from the electric power industry.

 

Barry252 : The Leaf is advertised with a 24 kWh battery for a 100 mile range. It’s motor is 80kW. If the Saab has a 35.5 kWh battery and a 135 kW motor, could we expect a range of 100 miles as well? The Saab is certainly prettier that the Leaf, but no one has come out with a design to top the Volt.Just over two months to go. C’mon, GM, let’s have ALL the specs!!   (Quote)
You can expect a real world range of about 100-120 miles if Saab uses the same percentage of their battery pack. Of course, the Leaf's real world range is more like 85-90 miles and these are day 1 real world ranges not year 8. The range will be reduced about 20-35% by then. The larger electric motor can actually help out efficiency, unlike what we're used to with ICE engines.

 

@Barry252

"The Leaf is advertised with a 24 kWh battery for a 100 mile range. It’s motor is 80kW. If the Saab has a 35.5 kWh battery and a 135 kW motor, could we expect a range of 100 miles as well? The Saab is certainly prettier that the Leaf, but no one has come out with a design to top the Volt."

The old concept of a bigger engine uses more fuel doesn't really apply to electric motors. A 200HP motor ran at half power will behave the same (well mostly) as a 100HP one at full power. The only disadvantage of a larger motor will be its heaver mass (and the stronger drive line required).

The electricity used will depend primarily on the drag forces encounter not the in-efficiency of the engine as we are use to.

 

I like this concept a lot. The are approaching the right market with the right sized (kwh & physical) battery pack, and have some good partners. Boston Power is a good battery company. If battery conditioning can be properly accomplished with air instead of liquid, that is another big plus. It would be interesting to hear what cell chemistry is being used. 3hr charge is pretty fast. It would require 50+A service at 240V and 80% battery usage.

 

Battery is BIG.
They must expect costs to drop.
Saab needs a good price.

 

bookdabook : Battery is BIG.They must expect costs to drop.Saab needs a good price.   (Quote)


Of course the costs will drop. With all the research and upcoming doubling of power density the weight will drop as well. It will only get better.

Take Care,
TED

 

Just another example of how far ahead GM is from the others. It seems everyone can build electric cars on a leash, only the Volt gives you an electric car that can go wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go.

 

I always did like Saabs. I never had one personally, but, several friends have them.

This is what will sell electric cars to the masses. Make them the look and act like real good-sized cars. Everything so far on the drawing boards from large manufacturers looks and smells different or small. Tesla S is more like it. A Saab 9-3 is a pretty good sized car as well. Volt is good, but, may be too small for some.

The more manufacturers we have in the space, the better. Battery cell suppliers will shake out to a few good ones that do things efficiently. Costs will come down quickly and battery capacity will advance a couple generations in the next decade.

In a couple weeks, car 2.0 is here. After that it's a matter of evolution rather than revolution.

 

Can't help it. I normally don't bother commenting on things when they turn to politics, as things become very opinionated. However, right at the end of yesterday's thread, some joker labeling him(her)/self 'Palin Army' dicusses why Sarah Palin should have a fleet of Volts. But what fries me is, 'Commander Palin has a fierce loyalty to our environment.' Yeah right. This from a woman who denies global warming and hails as the governor of the state where its impacts are most obvious. Alaska being the one place in our country where you can light the ground on fire because of all the methane leaching out of the thawing permafrost. Or utility poles falling over that were supposed to remain upright from drilling into 'perma'frost. Or the place where polar bears have lost predictable sea ice to hunt from. I was so flabbergasted when I read her views, that I could only conclude that she must therefore be in the back pocket of the industry so responsible for Alaska's state revenues- OIL. Maybe I am biting into troll bait with that comment, but Sarah Palin is the LAST person I would expect to see with a fleet of Volts.

 

Saabs are really nice cars and this one looks like a winner to me

 

More on this from Boston.com:


http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/09/18/battery_from_westborough_firm_will_power_new_all_electric_saab/


excerpt:

Saab expects the ePower to travel up to 124 miles on a single charge. The car will accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 93 miles per hour. Lampe-Onnerud said the car’s recharging speed would depend on the kind of recharging equipment used. But she said the Boston-Power battery is capable of charging to full power in an hour, reaching 80 percent of capacity in 30 minutes.

 

I saw a web article yesterday about an EV, but for some reason I don't think it was this. I'm thinking it was a Volvo. It was interesting. Production was a few years away (if at all). I distinctly remember that one of the points in the article was that they used an existing car body, not one specially designed for the EV. I'm also thinking that it was an EREV, but not so sure -- I did not pay enough attention (after all it was not about the Volt).

 

It's good to hear of yet another electric car offering in the works although I want to see a U.S. offering from GM too. For my needs, an EREV/Volt is ideal but there will be many who can efficiently drive a BEV. I can't wait to see electrically driven cars dotting the roads in the coming years!

OK, my limerick for today

We hear of new electrics quite often
Car makers are starting to soften
Although Saab's overseas,
just hand out the keys,
One more nail in our oil import coffin!

 

"Saab has announced its own pure electric car."

Saab ePower

Does any manufacturer want the EV truck market? Give it a try. You'll be surprised.

Hyundai Tucson (EV?)

Volkswagen Tiguan (EV?)

=D-Volt

 

Racing, anyone?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11354875

 

Eco_Turbo : Racing, anyone?


Interesting that both featured EV drivers are female. The smoothness, clean nature, and quiet of these vehicles is appealing to the ladies. Manufactures will do well to advertise in their direction.

=D-Volt

 

JohnK : I saw a web article yesterday about an EV, but for some reason I don’t think it was this.I’m thinking it was a Volvo.It was interesting.Production was a few years away (if at all).I distinctly remember that one of the points in the article was that they used an existing car body, not one specially designed for the EV.I’m also thinking that it was an EREV, but not so sure — I did not pay enough attention (after all it was not about the Volt).  
Perhaps it's the new Volvolt

I would like to see more EREV offerings myself. Competition would both motivate improvements and validate the EREV concept. The Volt sets the bar quite high, so bring 'em on!

 

Thought for the Day:

 

20 CorvetteGuy : Thought for the Day:  

Nice. Maybe your best so far.

 

Ted in Fort Myers : Of course the costs will drop. With all the research and upcoming doubling of power density the weight will drop as well. It will only get better.Take Care,TED   (Quote)

You mean energy density I think. Power density is the amount of power it can discharge in a specific amount of time(max rate of discharge), ultra caps are good for this. Energy density is total charge held. But I agree with you only good this to come in battery tech!!!!

 

ProfessorGordon, #19 : ...I would like to see more EREV offerings myself. Competition would both motivate improvements and validate the EREV concept. The Volt sets the bar quite high, so bring ‘em on!

I AGREE! And as I've said here before, I believe most automakers have their patent attorneys and drive train engineers hard at work (secretly) studying EREV designs that will either violate as few of GM's patents as possible, violate none at all (unlikely), or working out affordable licensing deals with GM's patent people. And for anyone here who doesn't agree, please note the following Boston Power statement...

Boston Power: "Our breakthrough technology, with over 120 patents pending in the United States and internationally, is based on a combination of unique chemistry formulations, plus mechanical engineering and electrical designs at the cell and system level that enable us to deliver on the promise."*

If Boston Power has filed >120 patents on their battery technology alone, can you imagine how many GM has likely filed to cover their battery design PLUS their complete EREV drive train?

* http://www.boston-power.com/technology

 

How about this one

http://i.autoblog.com/2010/09/17/spy-shots-opel-meriva-ev/