Saab 2010 Paris Motor Show: Saab 9-3 ePower

[Kowalski]

The first electric car in Saab's history.

It's based on the 9-3 Sport Wagon. It has an autonomy of 124 miles (200 kilometres) and yet it will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 8.5 seconds.

Saab Automobile is taking its first step towards developing an all-electric vehicle with the Saab 9-3 ePower.

Making its public debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month, the Saab 9-3 ePower is the prototype for a test fleet of 70 vehicles which will participate in extensive field trials in Sweden early next year.

The performance of the cars will be evaluated under a variety of real world driving conditions as part of the development process for a purpose-built, electric Saab vehicle. Targets to be verified include a projected driving range of approximately 200 kilometers through the use of high density energy storage in lithium-ion battery cells.


The Saab ePower is the first electric vehicle from Saab and 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).

Mid-sized sports combi with zero emissions
The Saab 9-3 ePower is the first all-electric car to offer its occupants the comfort and size of a wagon bodystyle. Saab engineers have integrated an electrical architecture within the shape and dimensions of a ‘conventional’ 9-3 SportCombi.

Under the hood is a 135 kW/184 hp electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. Instant torque enables zero to 100 km/h acceleration is just 8.5 seconds, together with a top speed of 150 km/h.

The compact yet powerful 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is accommodated in a modified floor-pan, mainly in space within the car’s wheelbase previously occupied by the exhaust system and fuel tank. This enables an optimum weight distribution and excellent driving dynamics similar to those of a standard SportCombi.

Inside the cabin, a conventional, automatic-style gearshift lever provides selection of ‘drive’, ‘neutral’, ‘park’ and ‘reverse’. The rev-counter, fuel and turbo boost displays in the main instrument cluster are replaced by read-outs for battery status, power consumption and driving range, all illuminated in green. To optimize space, an electric park brake is fitted.

Electro-hydraulic power steering is used and the cabin is equipped with full air conditioning, via a compressor powered by the battery pack. A separate 12-volt battery, for the lights and cabin ancillaries, is also charged from the battery pack via a current transformer.

The operation of the vehicle’s powertrain is controlled by a version of Saab’s own in-house Trionic 8 engine management system, with new software written for an electric vehicle application.

Long driving range with excellent durability
The Saab 9-3 ePower’s projected driving range of approximately 200 kilometers pushes out the boundaries for current EV performance. Key to its long range are battery cells which have an energy storage density substantially greater than the best currently used in EV applications. High energy density also contributes to a lower battery weight.

The battery pack has a capacity of 35.5 kW/h and is designed to operate with full power in ambient temperatures as low as -30ºC, at least 10ºC below the operating level of other battery packs on the market today. Another key benefit is the use of air, instead of liquid, cooling which contributes to lower cost and further weight-saving in the pack’s design.

The pack is intended to support re-charge cycles equivalent to about ten years average use. It can be fully recharged from a domestic mains supply in about three to six hours, depending on depletion status. Charging times can be greatly reduced if the voltage of the electrical feed is raised, as there is no limitation on the battery’s input capacity.

Test driving experience is expected to validate the performance of this advanced battery pack, which is designed to operate reliably within a full depletion ‘buffer’ set at only 12 percent of total capacity, a much lower operating margin than used in the management of other packs.

Its lithium-ion battery cells are also the first to receive a Nordic Ecolabel accreditation for their environmental safety and sustainability, which includes manufacturing processes.

The 9-3 ePower meets the high crash worthiness standards that Saab applies to all its vehicles. The car’s power pack is located outside the occupant compartment in non-deformable structural zones, well protected and encapsulated. The battery management and monitoring system supports safe performance during normal driving and in crash conditions.

Extensive user trials
Hundreds of drivers and their families will be enlisted by Saab and its development partners during a extensive test driving and evaluation program involving a 70-strong fleet of Saab 9-3 ePowers in central, west and eastern Sweden during 2011-12.

The Saab ePower project team in Trollhättan will monitor the performance of the cars across a wide variety of usage patterns and driving conditions. To log essential component data, all vehicles will be equipped with aircraft-style, black box recorders.

“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.”

Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s CEO adds: “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.

“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 Newsroom - Saab Newsroom via Saabs United: Saab 9-3 ePower

 

[Giannis]

Why so much hate towards Saab Julius?

 

[Tumbo]

Beautiful car. Love it.

 

[DaSilva]

Why so much hate towards Saab Julius?

They don't have a reason to exsist .... IMO.
They do not add anything and I repeat NOTHING to the automotive industry. Well their base design is superb and their two lates
BIG concept cars looked AWSOME.
But the final product is useless... (yes I've driven alot)


Give me one reason to buy a SAAB?

 

[Padi]

Give me one reason to buy a SAAB?

If your a patriotic swede?

 

[DaSilva]

Because they are not crap, not stupid and not useless shit.

You drive a Passat. with that engine you could easy bought a quite brutal SAAB.... so WUT LOL ?

If your a patriotic swede?

Ye, but even people in sweden drive german
just look at TUMBO, he also drive japanese ? but noo swed love.... Why ?

 

[Giannis]

They don't have a reason to exsist .... IMO.
They do not add anything and I repeat NOTHING to the automotive industry. Well their base design is superb and their two lates
BIG concept cars looked AWSOME.
But the final product is useless... (yes I've driven alot)


Give me one reason to buy a SAAB?

They add nothing to the automotive industry? Have you forgotten SAAB's past?

Also, what is the definition of "adding something to the automotive industry"? What specifically adds the A1, that a Saab doesn't?

Isn't the new 9-5 a quite unique designed good alternative to the germans? Isn't the 9-3 a descent family car? Both look good and are descent to drive. Why that hate - I cannot understand it!

Sorry Jul, but this post was quite ignorant and attacking if you ask me...

 

[DaSilva]

They add nothing to the automotive industry? Have you forgotten SAAB's past?

Also, what is the definition of "adding something to the automotive industry"? What specifically adds the A1, that a Saab doesn't?

Isn't the new 9-5 a quite unique designed good alternative to the germans? Isn't the 9-3 a descent family car? Both look good and are descent to drive. Why that hate - I cannot understand it!

What's the reason about beeing descent? average? in the middle? between?
Even you make the sound like cars that just seem to bee there in this world,... for no reason...


Saab have in the past yes added much to the automotive industry.
I agree without knowing excatly why (but that's my poor knowledge)

"adding something to the autoindustry" INOVATION ?
- Ever heard the business word: USP ?
Ex: quattro, PDK, WANKEL, Suicide doors, B&O, Burmeister, DSG,
Toyota, Veyron, ABS, Airbag, Panorama sunroof, NANO ..... you get the point..

A1
Premium car, premium equipment in the polo segment
it is no question one of the best allrounder in its segment.
(Mini is more sporty, Mito is more soul, Polo cheaper,)
Audi take a bit of all of them and that makes it unique.
unique because none of it rivals can match it's allround preformance but they can beat it brutaly when it comes to one excatly test like price or go-cart feel.
This car brings A8 standard into the small car (if you pay enough)

95 Nice design agree.
Haven't driven one...
Stil has the 95 2010 a USP? (except nightpanel?)
is it the most comfy car? most sporty? best allrounder?
most space ? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO....

but I have driven the old ones like from 1 to 4-5 years
old, they are falling apart and problems all the way... (my experience)
Working with second hand cars.

93 with the pricing in Norway SAAB are going down the drain.
You don't want a BMW or Mercedes or Audi, Skoda instead of SAAB ?

and if you want a cheap car, you buy a KIA or Honda or Hyundai,
Mazda ??? Toyota also ? They have all actually a USP.

Sorry Jul, but this post was quite ignorant and attacking if you ask me...

I am sorry but someone has to bring this up.
It is important...
SAAB only exsist because of the history/tradition?
Well that's just wrong... If SAAB only had something .... anything..

So my question to you is do they? do Saab have the best technologi in the world to make a better diff. than BMW ?
Do they have a uniqe gearbox under development 10 speed with all possible options?
does Saab have a so extreme paint work it will never fall off? or a an engine so new and inovative it runs on soda?

Many automakers have been stopped since the car was invented, new will rise and some will fall.
SAAB was 1% from death. I belive main reasion was because of peoples jobs and such.

to finish of here
My hate is for the production of the car, the inviroment, the costs, all the lies...
SAAB will never rais agian... why use millions of cash and people and polute this wold with a product we don't need?
get my point?

and yes I am sorry of course no reason for me to bash and scream about like this but I just get so mad.

LAST/EDIT:
VOLVO on the otherhand is awsome, love their new models and XC60 is selling good.

 

[Giannis]

What's the reason about beeing descent? average? in the middle? between?
Even you make the sound like cars that just seem to bee there in this world,... for no reason...


Saab have in the past yes added much to the automotive industry.
I agree without knowing excatly why (but that's my poor knowledge)

"adding something to the autoindustry" INOVATION ?
- Ever heard the business word: USP ?
Ex: quattro, PDK, WANKEL, Suicide doors, B&O, Burmeister, DSG,
Toyota, Veyron, ABS, Airbag, Panorama sunroof, NANO ..... you get the point..

A1
Premium car, premium equipment in the polo segment
it is no question one of the best allrounder in its segment.
(Mini is more sporty, Mito is more soul, Polo cheaper,)
Audi take a bit of all of them and that makes it unique.
unique because none of it rivals can match it's allround preformance but they can beat it brutaly when it comes to one excatly test like price or go-cart feel.
This car brings A8 standard into the small car (if you pay enough)

95 Nice design agree.
Haven't driven one...
Stil has the 95 2010 a USP? (except nightpanel?)
is it the most comfy car? most sporty? best allrounder?
most space ? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO....

but I have driven the old ones like from 1 to 4-5 years
old, they are falling apart and problems all the way... (my experience)
Working with second hand cars.

93 with the pricing in Norway SAAB are going down the drain.
You don't want a BMW or Mercedes or Audi, Skoda instead of SAAB ?

and if you want a cheap car, you buy a KIA or Honda or Hyundai,
Mazda ??? Toyota also ? They have all actually a USP.



I am sorry but someone has to bring this up.
It is important...
SAAB only exsist because of the history/tradition?
Well that's just wrong... If SAAB only had something .... anything..

So my question to you is do they? do Saab have the best technologi in the world to make a better diff. than BMW ?
Do they have a uniqe gearbox under development 10 speed with all possible options?
does Saab have a so extreme paint work it will never fall off? or a an engine so new and inovative it runs on soda?

Many automakers have been stopped since the car was invented, new will rise and some will fall.
SAAB was 1% from death. I belive main reasion was because of peoples jobs and such.

to finish of here
My hate is for the production of the car, the inviroment, the costs, all the lies...
SAAB will never rais agian... why use millions of cash and people and polute this wold with a product we don't need?
get my point?

and yes I am sorry of course no reason for me to bash and scream about like this but I just get so mad.

LAST/EDIT:
VOLVO on the otherhand is awsome, love their new models and XC60 is selling good.

Quite an interesting topic you are raising here Julius. I hope that more people will respond to this and I'll move the posts to a new thread!

So, let's go:

So what is the USP of the latest Saabs? Apart from the image that the Saab name carries? Apart from being a good allarounder if priced correctly? Apart from having a unique design? Apart from all these, I do not know. It's a good package (both the 9-3 and 9-5) if priced correctly. End of story about Saab. If it had more selling points, Saab would sell more cars. But they don't. But what they offer is not crap. Is a 9-3 better than a Insignia? Is a 9-3 better than a Peugeot 407? A Ford Mondeo? A Renault Laguna? A Volvo S60? A VW Passat? I don't think that "no" is the answer to all those questions.

Then you mention the A1. To me it's way too much $ for so little car. I would gladly spend what the base model costs, but only to get more car. That said, I don't think the A1 is worthless, nor it doesn't have one or more USPs, but it doesn't appeal to me as a complete package.

But, what are the innovations that A1 brought to the market? None. It doesn't carry any new technologies, nor has any racing engines. It just offers premium luxury in the small car segment. It doesn't count as an innovation in my book.

Then to the other point you raised. What special does Saab have, so that it is allowed to exist.

May I ask you, what fantastic and unique technologies do Renault, Peugeot, Ford, Kia, Skoda have so that they can exist? No special technologies at all. Yet they offer good products and their products sell. What special technology does a Seat Ibiza have? None, at all, but it sells like hot cakes. It's USP? Probably its youthful design and good engines, interior space. The Polo offers the same. So, a 9-3 can offer reliable engines, with good interior space, a unique design and good equipment for it's price. Isn't this a USP?

You raise some very good arguments in post #10, but still I cannot see why you hate a brand so much. I don't think Saab has hurt you or your family, nor you are a passionate Volvo fan, so I can't understand why so much hate. It's just a car company Julius. Just because you don't understand their products, doesn't mean you have to hate them.

 

[ree]

"adding something to the autoindustry" INOVATION ?
- Ever heard the business word: USP ?
Ex: quattro, PDK, WANKEL, Suicide doors, B&O, Burmeister, DSG,
Toyota, Veyron, ABS, Airbag, Panorama sunroof, NANO ..... you get the point..

Don't forget, that Saab was the first car manufcature that introduced the seat heating. And by now, they still offer most of the little comfort features that every other automotive brand is offering too.

 

[Monster]

Saab was once a unique brand with strong character, and innovative ideas but GM killed it, and now it seems it is beyond help. It was the first to employ low pressure turbo engines to allow the use of smaller engines in the cars with the benefits of performance and fuel economy, much like what everyone else is doing more than 20 years later. It was first to develop an in house engine management system. It was the first to use active head rests to minimize whiplash injuries. It was first to come up with an engine with a variable compression ratio. Saab failed to make use of their past achievement to build on their future and now they are just floating around in no mans land. Here in Australia, I think they sold one car so far this year, ONE. As a fan of Saab (we used to have a 9000cs) it is painful to see. Spyker better have a dam good plan to turn it all around otherwise I will give Saab another 3 years and it will be goodbye for good.

 

[Kowalski]

Never mind Julius' views on Saab, which has little to do with this thread, it's amazing that even with limited budget, Saab managed to create electric cars for a fraction the Volt's cost.

That's right, I did say electric cars.

Before the electric 9-3 Sport Wagon, Saab also created an electric 9-3 convertible.

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