ZE Saabs are in production
July 21, 2011 in News
TTELA reports the following (original article here) where they were taken for a test-drive in the ZE Saab 9-3:
Although no cars in Saab’s assembly plant is being produced there is intense work in the engineering department with new car models, not least 9-3 ePower. The estimated range is 200 km, and unlike other electric cars, it has an equally large luggage like a regular 9-3 hatchback.
- Everything is standard. Tires, suspension and it is only slightly heavier than the heaviest standard model, said Peter Zienau responsible for Saab’s electric cars while he drives us to Saab’s test track in one of five prototypes of electric cars that are ready.
These cars are not quite the same capacity as the 70 that will be tested for one year.
- At the end of the year, the cars are out to get feedback from customers, said Thomas Ahlqvist, who is technical project manager.
The project started in 2009 and has a range of partners. In addition to Saab’s Innovatum, Electro Engine, Power Circle, Boston-Power and Energy Agency involved.
At Almedalsveckan Gotland showed Saab up three of its electric cars.
- We received very positive feedback. Above all, many impressed by the wagon has left all his luggage space, says Anna Petre responsible for Saab’s contacts with authorities and that was on the island.
The cars on display does not quite have the performance that the 70 test cars will have.
- Zero to hundred in 9.1 seconds and 150 km/h in top speed, says Peter Zienau while he was driving around at Saab’s test track.
The speedometer shows just over a hundred km per hour and in addition to wind noise and the fan it is completely silent in the car.
Saab has also worked hard on security and therefore it is an advantage that the weight is evenly distributed. Most of the car is also standard.
Air Cooled Battery
One thing that is different to a normal 9-3 sedan is the car only has four seats. Between the rear seat passengers are some of the battery which is shaped like a T under the car.
When the car is hoisted up it clearly shows. Unlike its competitors, the Saab battery air-cooled and vented through the AC unit. The actual motor is not very large.
- There is an electric engine and a final drive, explains Kjell Johansson working on electrical safety for electric and hybrid cars at Saab.
The car is hoisted down and intensive work continues.
It’s not just staff from Saab is working on the project but also to Americans from the battery vendor Boston-Power.
The batteries have a total capacity of 35 kilowatt hours. A charge by regular electrical outlet takes about four hours. At a quick charge station, it takes between 30 and 40 minutes.
- City of Stockholm is intending to buy 6000 cars for 2012. This is still a project, but we are the only class with a separate luggage, says Anna Petre hopefully.
About 50 engineers are involved in Saab’s electric car project, but the entire engineering & production organization is available.
How has the project affected by the stoppage of production?
- We are independent of production. The cars are built on a prototype line where we built them in a series, says Peter Zienau.
As Saab’s car production gets under way in August to electric cars will be built even on the regular production line.
For those interested in taking a closer look at Saab’s electric cars, there’s two of them on display at the Saab Car Museum in the summer.
AeroM said on July 21, 2011
Absolutely great!
Carl-Henrik said on July 21, 2011
Keep fighting! Wish to see these cars at the dealers. That would be amazing!
Marco said on July 21, 2011
Impressive…! Lets hope City of Stockholm will get their cars…
Belfast_Saab said on July 21, 2011
6000 units would be a fantastic boost!!
JH said on July 21, 2011
That doesn’t mean that they will buy Saabs, but we can hope that at least some of them will be 9-3 ePowers!
Tim said on July 21, 2011
First there will be a European tender and based on the results the city of Stockholm will be able to buy their electric cars. Let’s hope Saab will be able to do the best offer.
Audun said on July 21, 2011
Link: http://ttela.se/ekonomi/1.1298611-elbilsprojektet-tar-inte-semester
Angel-off said on July 21, 2011
So glad to read that Saab Engineering Dept. are on the fly. SAAB will need everything they could create for 2012.
StefanH STHLM (www.bmsg.se/saab sales.pdf) said on July 21, 2011
I´ve suggested Swade to report on what departments that are active and how things roll on with ng9-3.
I hope he take me up on that one.
Im sure it will do us good to hear about other parts than production dept.
Audun said on July 21, 2011
That would be very interesting to hear about from the inside.
Vagabond said on July 21, 2011
“Green Vehicles”, an ev car company in Salinas, CA just went out of business, leaving tax-payers fuming at losing 1/2 million dollars. My fear is Saab may be throwing good money after bad.
Grumpy said on July 21, 2011
I doubt that Vagabond. Whatever we think about it the era of the combustion engine is most likely coming to an end. Companies that do not offer alternatives will be as dead as horsedrawntaxis in London.
There will be plenty of failed business in the e-mobility business just as it is in any new, or in this case renewed, area. Companies with established names stand a better chance than complete newcomers. If our beloved brand survives this crisis I believe the electricar cars can be a great success, perhaps paierd with class leading hybrid technology or e-rev vehicles.
Vagabond said on July 21, 2011
Hmmm, Looks like you have crystal ball. What’s the next stock I can buy?
Khrisdk said on July 21, 2011
Try SWAN
They may have a bright future..
Else: Buy Haldor-Topsøe and forget about EV
Vagabond said on July 21, 2011
I already have swan and they’re losing money. Haldor-Topsoe? What’s that? If I buy it can I get my money back if… Grumpy, are you driving an ev?
Grumpy said on July 21, 2011
No but I ´sometimes wish I had an electrical bike.
Haldor-Topsoe, sounds like norwegian peddle cars
Grumpy said on July 21, 2011
Sorry, seems like it is a Danish company Haldor-Topsøe. Almost wrote: just like Helly-Hansen but then then I would have been spammed by all nice Norwegians
)
Khrisdk said on July 21, 2011
First..You can’t buy stocks in Haldor Topsøe, it’s a one man owned company with about 1.8 billion DKK in profits, expecting to double this in short time.
Secondly:
‘They are the ones making gasoline for the chinese out of Coal.
They are also the company that delivers most of the process tech for most of the Swedish Biomass/Methanol/Biogas test plants.
They can also make Gasoline directly from surplus wood, expected to be competitive with raw oil at around USD90 a barrel.
They are also sharp on DME, used for diesel replacement, also made from surplus Wood.
And they are working on getting Diesel cars to run on Bioetanol.
And then they are experts in catalysts and DeNox for automotive industries….
What else..Oh,yeah..they are Danish. We have finally found a way to make more out of wood that furniture
Börjesson said on July 21, 2011
Big Swedish commercial methanol startup Värmlandsmetanol are not using Haldor-Topsøe, but a German company called Uhde. I’m not sure if the technology involved is the same. Anyway, methanol from forest materials seems quite promising by the sound of it. No single solution will replace oil, of course, but this could be a part of it – at least in Sweden where we have lots of forests.
http://www.varmlandsmetanol.se/dokument/Folder%202011%20eng.pdf
(Note that this PDF is a commercial presentation from Värmlandsmetanol, not an unbiased assessment. Doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting, though!)
Khrisdk said on July 21, 2011
No, but they are the ones behind the Preem Diesel, and the GoBiGas tech for Biogas used in the Trifuel Saabs
And Chemrec BioDME..
By the way they are also making Hydrogen from methanol..
Börjesson said on July 21, 2011
Khrisdk, if these Haldor Topsøe guys decide to go public, make sure to let us know, OK?
Khrisdk said on July 21, 2011
Will do..
Fair warning though:
The main product processes for fertilizers, and he started in ’55 in Sweden in cooperation with Vargöns AB with ammonium synthezis.
And his main contact in Sweden was the Wallenberg Group
James said on July 21, 2011
that an ev car company failed doesn’t mean the industry has no market… on the contrary, it has a huge market. I have never heard of “Green Vehicles”… there are gobs of startups in that industry that will never succeed + I’m talking about the ones I have heard about. Established car companies have a *huge* advantage, especially those that are nimble + not stuck in their old fashioned ways… ev companies are typically strong on the EV tech side but weak on the car platform side… a car company can easily buy into the EV tech… Saab has a good chance here…
I know a lot of people keeping their old cars, waiting on a *good* ev/hybrid to hit the market. Let’s hope that’s the up coming 9-3 replacement!
James…
i. ant. kal. said on July 21, 2011
Great news!
Love that 93 ePower!
DUTCH900C said on July 21, 2011
Fantastic news!
Bouwe said on July 21, 2011
Now that is awesome!!!!!
dave said on July 21, 2011
There’s hope, a lot of it
Troels, Denmark said on July 21, 2011
Very interesting !
GerritN said on July 21, 2011
“it has an equally large luggage like a regular 9-3 hatchback”
Hatchback? HATCHBACK! Gimme, gimme!
I assume that this is a trans-typo.
Would be great if Saab could get some of these cars to the US. I’ll be happy to drive one around with some BIG ads on it. BMW did something similar last year, got them a lot of attention.