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)
+2
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:00 am)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
+2
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:07 am)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!!
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:18 am)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.
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:20 am)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.
+5
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:26 am)@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.
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:28 am)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.
+2
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:41 am)Battery is BIG.
They must expect costs to drop.
Saab needs a good price.
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:05 am)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
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:22 am)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.
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:30 am)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.
-2
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:56 am)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.
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:23 am)Saabs are really nice cars and this one looks like a winner to me
+2
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:35 am)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.
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:38 am)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).
+6
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:58 am)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!
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:05 am)“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
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:12 am)Racing, anyone?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11354875
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:25 am)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
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:29 am)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!
+14
Sep 18th, 2010 (11:08 am)Thought for the Day:
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (11:09 am)Nice. Maybe your best so far.
Sep 18th, 2010 (11:09 am)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!!!!
Sep 18th, 2010 (11:12 am)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
Sep 18th, 2010 (11:57 am)How about this one
http://i.autoblog.com/2010/09/17/spy-shots-opel-meriva-ev/
Sep 18th, 2010 (1:01 pm)I like the Hyundai Tucson (EV) I wish that I could buy one today. However we will have to wait untill 2013. =) That should give GM time to put a BEV Equonix on the market that I would prefer. Go EV’s!
Sep 18th, 2010 (1:13 pm)The Saab is certainly big enough. That’s good.
I hope battery density technology increases and the price drops.
Like JP above, I too wish the Hyundai Tucson (EV) could be bought now.
Sep 18th, 2010 (1:52 pm)Try:
http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/SG_MYPP.pdf
Also, the SmartGridCity pilot in Boulder Colorado:
http://smartgridcity.xcelenergy.com/
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Sep 18th, 2010 (2:01 pm)AMP? Or Toyota / Tesla? Transit Connect from Ford? Phoenix? Smith Electric? EVI? Eaton? The easy pickings are shrinking. The major OEM’s will first play to their strengths and more market segments will be served over time.
Sep 18th, 2010 (2:15 pm)Oh Sweden, how I love thee.
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (2:40 pm)I wonder what part GM will play in Raser Technologies EREV Silverado? They are partnering with Hyundia Heavy Industries. Will GM also partner with them or develop its own EV truck drive train.
http://www.rasertech.com/media/videos/plug-in-2010
Dick Zielinski, who used to work for GM, is the Chief Engineer for Electric Vehicle, Raser Technologies. His comment about the similarities between the Volt and Raser Extended Range Electric drive train for trucks is worth hearing.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Sep 18th, 2010 (3:18 pm)Right you are! I strongly suggest everyone here click on the above link. And note the mention that Ford’s F150 & Chevy’s Silverado are the nation’s #1 & #2 selling vehicles. Also note the sign “EREV-40″ in the background of this Raser video. Saab would be foolish not to be considering EREV as a logical next step in EV design, as I imply in my post #23 above.
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (3:41 pm)If GM does put a BEV Equinox some time from now, I will trade my wife’s ICE Equinox for it! The observation that women would prefer EVs has a historical fact that Claire Ford (Henry’s wife) used her Detroit Electric even if she could had chosen any of her husband’s cars. Her EV is at the Ford Museum at Dearborn, MI, and according to museum information, that car only needs to have the batteries recharged to be operational again. EVs were the women’s choice for the first part of the 1900s because they couldn’t turn the crank to start an ICE until GM invented the electric starter, and many of earlier ICE cars were very noisy and dirty. Since many women drive SUVs to do many of their family chores (my wife is one), then a BEV or EREV Equinox will be a big winner for GM!
Raymond
Sep 18th, 2010 (4:25 pm)At 70 initial units, this seems primarily an exercise in education and visibility. We’ve heard nothing about cost for good reason. Perhaps Saab (and others) merely want to be ready when Li/Ion costs drop to some “magic” number. The irony being that without enough manufacturers willing to ‘jump in with both feet,’ that actual cell-cost number is not likely to fall quickly.
Kudos to them for reaching past 100 miles, though.
I think we’ll find that GM’s approach of a “minimum sweet spot” pack, with range extension, makes a great deal of sense for this phase of of the transition to electric.
… but I still want a larger AER and smaller RE in some later offering.
Sep 18th, 2010 (4:36 pm)You are right but the new batteries with nanowires have both higher power density and energy density.
Take Care,
TED
+2
Sep 18th, 2010 (4:41 pm)GM building/testing Electric Cruze in South Korea
http://www.freep.com/article/20100918/BUSINESS0101/100917090/General-Motors-tests-electric-Chevrolet-Cruzes-in-South-Korea
-1
Sep 18th, 2010 (4:57 pm)Selling an EV Cruze here would contradict the point of the “range anxiety” trademark.
+4
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:02 pm)You don’t like political statements, and yet you bring up one from yesterday??? Argh! What’s wrong with this picture?
Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Be well,
Tagamet
-1
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:07 pm)I wouldn’t think that way. The EV Cruze would be a nice car for small countries to adopt to lessen their use of foreign oil. Most people in small countries don’t need to travel very far.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+3
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:19 pm)I was thinking about the subtle truth in this: While the car will still need gas, it won’t cost as much to top it off with its smaller tank. I think people will be pleasantly surprised by that, resulting in good word-of-mouth advertising.
BTW, I am aware that if people use the Volt only in CS mode they’ll have to fill up more often than they would with a standard car (with its larger tank), but why have the Volt if you are only using it in CS mode?
-8
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:26 pm)Tagamet, (in answer to #37)
I said it was yesterday’s thread. The comment was made TODAY.
-3
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:34 pm)Why not be offered the choice here?
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:38 pm)I’ve read great things about the *potential* (pun intended) of nanowire batteries, but the last time I checked they haven’t (yet) gotten past the fact that they are too brittle for use in cars.
Be well,
Tagamet
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:41 pm)As long as we are OT, here’s another. A Chevrolet Volt will be making a guest appearance in the new comedy program “Running Wilde” this fall. The program starts Sept. 21, and the Volt shows up later in the season when the main character, Steve Wilde, gives one to the main “chick,” Emmy Kadubic, to “win her affections.” I’d say if Wilde “scores,” so does the Volt.
+6
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:42 pm)Hence the contradiction…. I’ve now read all the comments, so I’m glad that politics didn’t hijack this thread.
Be well,
Tagamet
-12
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:52 pm)(click to show comment)
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:54 pm)From the article:
“…GM said it will launch other electric-vehicle test fleets in other non-cities outside the U.S. later this year.”
What’s a “non-city”? (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (5:55 pm)I think some of the nano tech is still a little ways off, at least from a cost perspective but they are making good headway. And having both energy density and power density increase will help with storage capacity and the rate of charge capability, and for full elecrtrification of the industry both are just as important in my book.
+4
Sep 18th, 2010 (6:22 pm)It is 2010. The clock is ticking. Greenhouse gas emissions must be stabilized by 2015 ( http://www.global-warming-forecasts.com/2015-climate-change-global-warming-2015.php )
We’ve got 4 1/2 years left. We are way behind schedule on this.
We need to go “chop chop” on replacing clunkers with clean cars.
Sep 18th, 2010 (6:51 pm)Why not ask this of your Japanese masters? Toyota could offer a BEV here as easily as GM.
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:16 pm)500,000 units a year by 2015 now were talking! In no time after 2015 everybody will have an Electric car. Keep it on coming auto companies bring it on you can do it. Yes we can!
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:22 pm)-2
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:29 pm)“they were sold off to Spyker and the Swedish government in bankruptcy proceedings.”
So here we are competing against he Swedish government… I’ll bet they are not bound to repay the Swedish government.
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:36 pm)The red volts are look great.
Sep 18th, 2010 (7:50 pm)I was *just* thinking that! They ARE look great! (G)
Be well,
Tagamet
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:00 pm)What about the (cough, cough) Volt (cough, cough) in my picture? #43 Doesn’t she look great?
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:23 pm)Does Saab still sell in Canada?
Hope they do by the time this is out.. :p
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:23 pm)Wish we could see that rear quarter panel. Did you see the cool modified rear quarter in the recent Edmunds photo?
=D-Volt
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:24 pm)Interesting you should mention this – that’s one of the reasons attributed to the death of the electric car 100 years ago.
They were favoured to the hard-to-crank gas horseless carriages by women because you just pull a lever and go.
Thus, it wasn’t manly to have an electric carriage (“because those are for women”) and with a majority of drivers being male, you can probably guess the rest.
So really, I would say the opposite to manufacturers.
Market it to both sexes or you’re going to have a product that loses you money.
The EV can appeal to both the practical people as well as those who want a car to go “zoom-zoom” (sorry Mazda, I know that’s your line.. where’s your EV, btw? :p)
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:41 pm)True this was the case 100 years ago. I believe the EREV models will catch on like the Beanie Baby frenzy of 1993-1996. Who will want to mess with a gas pump when you can drive each night for pennies? And when shopping centers offer free plug-in…better get out of the way Jack!
=D-Volt
-1
Sep 18th, 2010 (8:56 pm)Discouraging news from the UK, where electrics seem to be a little farther along.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11118552
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:00 pm)As as I am concerned Red is the only color!
The Beauty of the Volt, in Red
Cheers
=D~
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:18 pm)For a brief moment when I saw the picture of the Volt ad with the still shot of the moving car I thought finally they put some proper hub caps on the Volt! But alas it was just a picture with the wheels a twirling…
What ever happened to the hubcap?
=D~
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:24 pm)Weren’t they all stolen?
Be well,
Tagamet
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:26 pm)Well, gray is nice, but RED, well, RED is something special.
Be well,
Tagamet
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:31 pm)Is that a statement on our society?
Or *somebody* must have a massive stack of hubcaps?
/why can’t they give them back? I miss them.
=D~
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:35 pm)Very well said! Makes my heart melt!
=D~
+2
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:53 pm)We’ve handled some of the more vexing of mankind’s problems, and dad-gummit, we’ll handle this one too.
I Googled it and found that each state’s allotted hubcaps are sent to a single old gentleman who resides in that state (the garage must be wooden and the road to it must be “of dirt or similar medium”). I don’t know where they come up with some of these laws….
Be well,
Tagamet
+1
Sep 18th, 2010 (9:57 pm)Every single manufacturer making an electric does more for fighting terrorism than all the world aircrafct carriers in our American inventory. May God bless the world for hitting back at the terrorists. Lest we forget, nearly all the 9/11 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia, led by the one with links to the Royals there.
Oil Barons, the Chevy Volt is the shot heard round the world.
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:10 pm)Obviously missed the humor in #55, which means humor in #43 also missed. It’s not funny if you have to explain it, but for the record there is another “she” in #43. There are no “shes” in #51.
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:16 pm)=D-Volt
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:16 pm)Fellow Volt followers, if alright to post, can you please list the delership names and states. I’ve had enormous problems just contacting Chevy dealers. They’re famous for not knowing much about the products they sell unfortunately. Wish this were a Buick.
CHEVY VOLT: American-made, American-FUELED.
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:18 pm)I “got it” the first time around, but letting your neck so exposed was more fun than joining the joke (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:20 pm)Have you visited the forums? I know that there was an ongoing thread about where people found knowledgeable Chevy dealers.
Be well,
Tagamet
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:28 pm)I think it’s OK to say that actresses that are supposed to be good looking are good looking. More appropriate than commenting on, say, plant managers.
Back to the original comment, the TV show should be good PR for the Volt, depending on what the script has the actors saying.
Sep 18th, 2010 (10:40 pm)First thing in the morning I am going to find, and have a chat with that fellow. Just out of curiosity, no gentlewomen? I would think they would be more likely to give the hubcaps back.
Time for bed, if I had a Volt I would go look to see if was plugged in. Better for world peace you know. Better dreams and all that.
Cheers
=D~
/Nice Pair
Sep 19th, 2010 (8:15 am)#74
Michael Said:
I think it’s OK to say that actresses that are supposed to be good looking are good looking. More appropriate than commenting on, say, plant managers.
Plant managers might have something to say about that.
Sep 19th, 2010 (9:07 am)It is just excellent to see these major brands introducing their EVs. This confirms what we here at GM-Volt have long known: the EV revolution has begun and it largely began with the introduction of the Chevrolet VOLT!
I believe the GM site states some 73 issued and pending patents for all new systems in the first iteration of Volt.
Sep 19th, 2010 (10:32 am)This law was written in the good old days before gender sensitive language took over our verbiage.
Be well,
Tagamet
/Correction: Great pair!
-4
Sep 19th, 2010 (12:19 pm)Since when is electricity a “zero emission fuel” ? More lies from those seeking to capitalize on
a design that is anything but user friendly. If the totally irrelevant ability to go to minus 30 versus minus 20 degrees Celcius is being touted as an important feature, then apparently the Saab folks don’t have much to crow about (and assume the public doesn’t understand anything about ambient temperatures). Since when did Saab become a fraudulent company? Probably about the same time the brainless Swedish government took over.
Sep 19th, 2010 (2:06 pm)To some extent we’ve seen this type of cooperation with US automakers as well.
Ideally, what I would have liked to have seen though is the Big Three automakers after the cancellation of the EV1 back in 2003 get involved in some sort of a gov’t sponsored “Manhattan” type project to build a EREV. This project would also involve battery makers, electric motor manufacturers, existing EV car companies like Tesla, etc.
It’s good to see more options for consumers coming on stream.
George, Sudbury, Canada…go Volt!!
Sep 19th, 2010 (10:40 pm)There is a “Find a Dealer” link button on every Chevy website.
Sep 20th, 2010 (3:38 am)“especially old climates”
Yes, we in Sweden are famous for our especially old climates – ice age old, really
Just to clarify – the SAAB ePower is NOT intended to be mass-produced.
Sep 23rd, 2010 (8:51 pm)Darn, they dropped the wheel-hub-motors