by Rune
March 25, 2011 in News
The e-AAM guys have posted three new videos on youtube demonstrating among other things torque vectoring and climbing a steep hill.
It looks like the new system is coming along nicely. I can see certain similarities with the 9-5 XWD navigating through those bends.
Videolist embedded after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry →
by Red J
January 30, 2011 in Saabology
All of a sudden the car industry is able to deliver cars that are fun to drive and have an incredible low CO2 emission. Who is behind this incredible improvement, the engineering department or the marketing department?
I can’t speak for every new ultra-low emissions sports car being build in the future, but at least one. I don’t know how Mr. Wüst came to this information (German original article), but If I were one of the committees that decide how the consumption of a car has to be measured, I would try to change the current standard as fast as I could to reflect the real consumption of hybrid cars.
Mr. Wüst in his article talks about the Porsche 918 Spyder. This car will have a 500hp V8 engine + 218hp from the e-motor, a high speed of 325 kph and a 0-100 value of 3,2 s but only emit 70g of CO2 in the european mixed cycle.
Is that possible? Yes it is, because Porsche (and anybody else) is allowed to run the test only on battery power, the car can run for 25 km on battery power. Afterwards the consumed current is transformed inequivalent petrol consumption.
And what is the relation to Saab, you may ask? Well there is no direct link, as there isn’t much information leaked about the next 9-3, but it made me think about the latest Volvo announcement, and the fact, that rumors say that Saab is targeting similar Specs as the Volvo made me think about it.
Volvo is presenting its new V60 hybrid at Geneva. The car combines the current D5 engine (Diesel; 205hp;420Nm) with an electrified rear axle with 70electric hp, getting the current 142g/km to an almost impossible 50 g/km. This car will hit the showrooms in 2012.
Is Volvo using the same trick as Porsche, to be frankly I think yes, they do, the car can run twice as long as the Porsche on battery power. Will Saab have to use the same trick to get the planned 9-3 hybrid (with a similar configuration to the V60). Yes, I also think they will have to.
My point is, that Saab may present the <120g 9-3 SC at Geneva, but this big achievement from the Saab engineers will be seen like a joke one year later when Volvo gets the V60 hybrid on the road.
At least the supremacy from Volvo won’t last too long (I hope), and the Germans (the A4 for instance), won’t be able to show something similar till 2013/14.
by Swade
October 26, 2010 in News
A reporter from Automobil magazine in Sweden has apparently sighted a hybrid in testing while he was in Trollhattan testing the new Saab 9-5.
The vehicle he saw was a very looking Saab 9-3 sedan and the reporter claims he saw a lot of battery packs in the back when the trunk was opened.
Automobile has just visited Trollhättan. The mission was to return the 9-5 Aero we had on test. As a bonus, we saw a diesel hybrid.
After a pleasant drive from Stockholm the writer and Oscar Carlquist arrived in Trollhättan. We will return the test car and go back to Stockholm in our own car. It is good manners to return a test car with a full tank, so we drive to a roadside petrol station affiliated to the factory. We are not alone, there are 9-5s and is 9-3s everywhere.
A 9-3 catches my attention because it is towed to the pump by a 9-5. When the car is to be refueled the co-driver goes out and open the luggage compartment. I notice a hefty collection of batteries and units, but my camera phone is not fast enough so I can take a picture.
I walk closer and see the sign in the rear side window. “Hybrid” it says, and now things get really interesting. When fueling is completed, the car is started and it becomes clear that there is a diesel engine that is being adapted for hybrid technology. I look up the car in the car register and indeed it is a diesel. It has automatic transmission and came into service in April 2007.
The development is a longstanding one. Already in November 2007 a Senska Dagbladet’s reporter spotted a white 9-3 with the combination of diesel and hybrid.
“We are developing hybrid technology for different types of engines,” said Magnus Wall, Director of the Development Laboratory at that time to SvD.
Since then much has happened with Saab. But it is gratifying to note that Saab proceeds with this project. Given how long the work has been ongoing they should soon be ready. It would be exciting if Saab could be at the forefront now. The world’s first diesel hybrid will be the Peugeot 3008 HYbird4 which goes on sale in 2011. Join now, Saab!
OK, so it’s only a sticker, but still…..
What was most interesting is that when the driver started the car, it was quite apparent that it was a diesel engine under the hood, meaning Saab could well be testing out hybrid technology in combination with their own frugal, low-emissions diesel powerplants.
Whilst petrol hybrids have been reasonably well received and appreicated for their mileage improvement, diesel hyrbids offer an even greater frugality promise and would surely be a great seller in European markets.
Thanks to Dippen and Arild for the tip!
by Swade
October 6, 2010 in News
Swedish technology gurus Ny Teknik have just published an article taking a closer look at the new rear axle setup being developed by the new joint venture between Saab and American Axle, called e-AAM.
The people involved are pretty positive about things, too.
This is bigger than the turbo and everything else that Saab has developed, “said the engineer Erik Sten, who has been involved from the beginning.
They summarise the need for such a system thus:
Today offers virtually all automakers wheel-drive cars.
In many of them, the entity that distributes power between front and rear wheels from the Swedish company Haldex. Four-wheel drive doubles the car’s traction on difficult surfaces and provide better traction on snow-covered slopes – especially if the car pulls a trailer.
The most advanced systems also allocates additional power to right the wheels that need it most, such as the outer wheels in a curve.
The disadvantage is that the mechanical power transmission between front and rear wheels will increase the weight by up to 100 kg. In addition, the friction losses. Altogether it gives in practice about 10 percent higher fuel consumption.
And the potential advantages of e-AAM’s system…..
Saab’s model is much easier. Less than 60 kg, including electronics and battery. It reacts faster than mechanical systems, which increases security. It also helps the driver stay on course on slippery roads by individual control of the torque (torque vectoring). But perhaps the biggest advantage is that it reduces consumption.
Compared with a mechanical all-wheel drive will save you between 14 and 30 percent, says Magnus Ryde, marketing manager for EAAM.
If you’re Swedish, get along and read the original article for yourself.
If you’re not Swedish, run that link through Googletrans and read the rest.
Perhaps one of you Swedes could give us a hand deciphering Ny Teknik’s diagram?
Thanks to Patrik B for the tip!
by Swade
September 24, 2010 in News
I’ve just got off the phone with Mats Fägerhag, Saab’s chief technical guru. We talked a little about the new e-AAM Driveline Systems venture that Saab has set up with American Axle Manufacturing.
Saab owns one third of the new company, which will be based in Trollhattan. AAM own the remaining two-thirds.
Here are the dot points from that conversation…..
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Saab already use a class-leading all-wheel-drive system in Haldex’s XWD, but one of the downsides with it is that it brings a 10-12% penalty in fuel economy. That’s because the system works so well in terms of moving torque around to different wheels, keeping the car stable, predictable and dynamic when you need it to be – it all takes energy. Saab’s aim in researching this new system is finding a way to maintain XWD-like stability whilst substantially improving fuel economy.
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The system that Saab have been developing since the carve-out from General Motors is an all-new system, developed by Saab. The patents and IP belong to Saab and this has been approved by GM.
Saab was the lead center for all-wheel-drive development within GM, so they built up a very experienced team that has been able to work quickly on this new technology once Saab were separated from GM.
by Swade
September 24, 2010 in News
Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile and American Axle Manufacturing (AAM) today announced the formation of a jointly-owned company for the engineering, development and marketing of innovative electric all-wheel drive systems, as well as electric and hybrid driveline systems. The new company, called e-AAM Driveline Systems, will be based in Trollhättan. The joint venture will commence operations on October 1.
e-AAM will develop and market an innovative electric all-wheel drive system in a full service package. This electric all-wheel drive system can be easily integrated into existing platforms, minimizing vehicle architecture changes. Saab will become a client of e-AAM Driveline Systems, purchasing components to be used in next-generation Saab vehicles from 2012. The new company will also market its expertise and advanced products to other car manufacturers on a global basis.
Announcing the formation of e-AAM Driveline Systems, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson said: “For Saab, the announcement of this partnership is a major step towards a successful future as an independent company. Saab is currently class-leading with its innovative Cross Wheel Drive system (XWD). The new electric all-wheel drive system will secure a leadership position in its next generation Saabs. This joint venture will bring together Saab’s world-class vehicle engineering expertise and AAM’s extensive engineering, production and marketing capabilities, which leads to a powerful combination.”
Richard E. Dauch, CEO, Chairman and co-founder of American Axle Manufacturing, said: “AAM is pleased to be launching this exciting new business opportunity with Saab. e-AAM will leverage the outstanding competencies of both our companies in the development of state-of-the-art electric and hybrid driveline systems needed by global OEMs to improve the fuel efficiency, ride and handling performance and overall capability of their products. The new and innovative products to be engineered by e-AAM, as well as the new customers to be served by this joint venture, solidly support AAM’s strategic initiative to expand and diversify our business.”
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UPDATE
According to TTELA:
Saab will be a minority owner, owning one third and American Axle will own two-thirds of the new company, which will begin operations in Trollhättan, Sweden on October 1. There will be 18 employees to begin with, including 17 engineers from Saab.
Saab’s CTO Mats Fägerhag thinks the staff may need to double by year end.
Thanks Matthias, in comments!
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by Swade
September 24, 2010 in News
A presser about this is expected very soon out now!.
This is from Bloomberg.
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Saab, American Axle Said to Partner on Electric Drive Systems
2010-09-24 06:04:15.532 GMTBy Kim McLaughlin and Ola Kinnander
Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) — Saab Automobile, the Swedish carmaker owned by Spyker Cars NV, agreed to set up a venture with American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. to make electric all-wheel drive systems and electric and hybrid drivelines, a person familiar with the matter said.The venture will be based in Trollhaettan, where Saab is headquartered, and will start operating next month. Saab will buy components from the venture for use in Saab vehicles from 2012, said the person, who asked not to be identified before an announcement. American Axle is based in Detroit.
Spyker bought Saab from General Motors Co. in February for $74 million in cash and $326 million in preferred shares as the Swedish company was on the brink of shutting down. Since then the carmaker has focused on severing its ties from GM and
rolling out its new 9-5 model. Spyker aims to be listed on the Stockholm stock market before the end of the year, Chief Executive Officer Victor Muller said on Aug. 12.The joint venture will also sell products to other carmakers, the person said.
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“the big one” would be the 92 partnership, wouldn’t it?
This is good, just not as good as that 
by Swade
September 9, 2009 in News
It’s kind of an open secret that Saab have been studying hybrid technology alongside certain Swedish institutes of higher learning. I’d not heard that any hybid systems were ready for extremely near-term release, but perhaps Autocar have heard differently:
Saab is planning to introduce a hybrid assist system on its new 9-5, using a small petrol engine backed up by an electric motor in a bid to cut fuel consumption and emissions.
The Swedish company is developing a 9-5 with a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine. This unit will be assisted during periods of acceleration by an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission…..
….The big advantage of an electric motor is that it offers high levels of torque from idle. In the Saab the electric motor will come on stream when the driver is pulling away or accelerating.
However, when the car is cruising the 120bhp 1.4-litre engine has more than adequate power on its own.
Saab’ previous release information about the 2010 Saab 9-5 did not include any information about this, nor even a hint that it might be coming. It may be something that they’re either keeping up their sleeve in order to make a bigger splash in Frankfurt, or it may be something for 2011 or 2012.
My own brief enquiries made prior to this posting received a brief “closer than you think” but that’s no definite timeframe either. Autocar give no time frame for their revelation, so I guess it’ll be a matter of wait and see.
I guess the good news about this is that it’s just a small indication of what Saab might be capable of doing once the clamps come off the engineering department. For so long, they were tied to GM projects that in Saab terms, possibly could be considered as ending up inconsequential.
With the shackles off and in partnerships with other lean organisations, I have a feeling they’ll be able to do much more significant things.
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Thanks to ‘None’ for the link!
by Swade
August 6, 2009 in Saabology
These snippets aren’t so much about what’s happening in Saab-land, more like what’s happening around it.
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Are BMW showing another hatchback concept in Frankfurt?
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And more from BMW – plans to introduce another nameplate specifially for electric vehicles.
The company will stick with its existing BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce marques, but Reithofer revealed that the board has voted to create a sub-brand for electric vehicles. This new sub-brand will be similar to BMW’s seperate marketing of the “M” line of vehicle, will be targeted at urban drivers and include a two wheeler. The first of these new vehicles will likely start appearing sometime around 2012-13.
This is of interest to Saabers because you might remember from the Auto Motor and Sport article last week, that Saab may be looking to partner with BMW on what would be the Saab 9-1. The 2013 timeframe sits well with that plan, too.
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Speaking of 2013, the head of Toyota in South Africa predicts that 2013 will be a pretty good year for the car industry.
All companies have to do now is survive that long!
This is a really good read for the hardcore industry watchers out there, going into reasons for the current crisis, responses to it, and what’s going to have to happen in the future.
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Andy Rupert finds out why the rear-facing seats in Volvo wagons are just for kids….
And as an aside, have you ever ridden in one of those rear facing seats? I had a ride in friend’s Saab 95 with a rear facing seat once, and it’s a wonder kids don’t end up throwing up all over the place.
It’s not a good place to be.
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Jerry Flint from Forbes takes a look at some of the brands at risk of withdrawing from the US market.
Two others on the endangered list are Swedish Saab and Volvo, which is particularly sad. Saab sales were down to 5,000 in the first half. Personally, I love Saabs. Consumer Reports recommends both cars (the 9-3 and 9-5). But Saab was bought by GM, probably the worst thing that can happen to a car company–except to be bought by Ford, which is even worse. Saab has been sold to a Swedish carmaker but survival still is a question.
It’s frustrating at the moment, but I think we’ll be OK, Jerry.
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And finally, some culture.
A band from the US called Goes Cube with their song called “Saab Sonett”.
It’s heavy, it has a moody filmclip that doesn’t relate to the song at all, and there’s definitely no Sonetts to be seen.
Not recommended, but feel free if you wish. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
by Swade
June 9, 2009 in Archive
On one hand, you have the sale of a brand like Hummer, which attracts little interest because the vehicles contain no desireable elements and it gets sold to some corner-store outfit that no-one can trace.
On the other hand, you have the sale of Saab, which whilst it’s making us all crazy with the time it’s taking, is progressing slowly because there IS genuine interest from some serious players.
And here’s one reason why, and it’s also written about as a reason why Saab people are patient and optimistic about a sale being done the right way.
This story appears in Ny-Teknik, the Swedish publication for tech types. My thanks to Olav and Thomas, who both sent in links for this one.
Here’s the Googletrans:
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Hybrid technology – Saab’s trump card
GM is now going in a controlled bankruptcy is no threat to the Saab or the sale of Saab. The reason is that GM must have technology from Saab in the future.
Hybrid technology and security expertise is Saab’s trump card in the final negotiations with GM and a new owner. This makes the Saab people do not feel concerned even when the GM is now going in a controlled bankruptcy.
- If GM will live on after a reorganization is dependent on technology from Saab, Saab spokeswoman says Gunilla Gustafs.
GM may therefore be a series of agreements on future cooperation and development in exchange for, among other waiver Saab debts of several billion for a sale.
- It’s about safety and especially on hybrid technology of various kinds from Saab that GM has in their product plans. Saab has really skilled technicians who have developed special skills that are of interest to GM in the future, “says Gunilla Gustafs.
Saab engineers have, inter alia, had principal responsibility for development of hybrid technology in Europe, and helped with a range of technologies including GMS American hybrids.
It is these agreements, together with the fact that GM actually want to get rid of Saab, which will in Trollhättan looks pretty cool on what is currently happening in Washington.
A prerequisite for the Saab will be able to comply with its reorganization plan is that GM canceled the debts of ten billion. In addition, GM supply Saab with the tools to manufacture the new 9-5 in Sweden.
- In theory, in a “worst case”, would GM, or a bankruptcy trustee be able to say that the promises do not apply anymore. But neither we nor the companies are speculators on Saab has received no indications that it may happen, “says Gunilla Gustafs.
by Swade
June 8, 2009 in Archive
Woodz sent me a link to a story at Lancaster Online, about a guy named Brandon Hollinger who has turned what looks like it should have been a parts car into a fully functioning electric vehicle.
Not the tidiest looking Saab, eh? Well, this is actually the good one. Hollinger bought a pair of Saab 96s – one to use and one for bits – and having never previously built anything in his life, proceeded to turn his ‘keeper’ Saab 96 into a rechargeable electric car.
This is Hollinger with the engine bay of his 96. V4 “out”, batteries and 96-volt electric motor “in”. Yes, a 96-volt motor for a 96. Poetic.
Of course, what I like about this story is that it’s not only a Saab being featured (which is good), but it’s a Saab guy being featured. As you can see in the still shot from the video, below, Brandon also owns a Saab 900 Turbo, which still runs on dino-juice.
The full story, with pictures and video, is available here.
Thanks WooDz!
by Swade
June 5, 2009 in Archive
This could be a long and convoluted story, but I’ll try and cut it down a little.
What it amounts to is an opportunity lost for Saab and some good press for Volvo. Exactly why that opportunity was lost for Saab, I’m not sure.
It all started back in 2007. Following Saab’s successful showing of their own plug-in hybrid concept the year before, Saab announced that they would be partnering with Volvo, Vattenfall and battery maker ETC to develop hybrid technologies for a vehicle that would see demonstrators made “in just over a year from [December 2007].
Those demonstrator vehicles would show what a plugin hybrid could be like to live with and the companies would seek feedback in order to produce better vehicles, when production models actually came.
That co-operative project actually saw the light of day during the week, although Saab’s name was nowhere to be seen.
From Autoblog:
Volvo and Vattenfall have just made an announcement that should hurry the Swedish car maker along the hybrid highway. The two companies have partnered to develop a plug-in diesel hybrid that is expected to begin series production in 2012 with the first three demonstration vehicles to be completed this summer.
So what happened? Why weren’t Saab involved in this reveal, and why won’t they be involved in the finished product?
This story from NyTeknik could provide some answers. Here’s a GoogleTrans:
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When Volvo and Vattenfall showed the Swedish plugin hybrid a week ago, there was an absence from the team that started the project.
The year was 2006. At the Stockholm Motor Show, Saab showed their Saab 9-3 convertible with a hybrid powertrain. It was the first step in the company’s development of electric vehicles.
But even then the car manufacturer knew that it would be too expensive to continue working on hybrids and plgin hybrids without cooperation with other companies.
At the motor show in April, Saab made the first contacts with Vattenfall. A few months later the companies met at Saab växellådsfabrik in Gothenburg and discussed a joint project: a plugin hybrid with a powerful battery that could do 50 km drive on a charge.
After the first meetings Saab and Vattenfall decided on contacting Volvo. But Volvo hesitated.
- We had to drag them into the project, says a source within Saab.
Finally, Volvo decided to be involved (involvoed??? – SW). About the same time the group expanded with te inclusion of battery company ETC Battery and Fuel Cells in Nol, outside Gothenburg.
Volvo trucks were also on several meetings. Scania showed interest, but never got so far as to participate actively in the work. ABB were asked if they wanted to be involved, but the company – which previously worked together on hybrids with Volvo and BMW – refused.
The truck manufacturers disappeared during the journey because the project was so focused on cars.
At the end of 2007, [the group] sought support from the Energy Agency to develop prototypes. The four companies were prepared to invest SEK 62 million. The state would provide 30 million.
The application was granted and work on plugin hybrid took off. But last fall Saab were forced take a “time out” because of the crisis at GM and Saab’s own precarious situation.
- A hard decision, and extra heavy as it was we who started the work,” says New sources of technology.
So while Vattenfall boss Lars G Josefsson, last week said that Volvo and Vattenfall run together into the future and the companies’ collaboration is “a natural marriage”, there was a third party in Trollhättan and followed the resurrection of a certain loss and grief.
Now the rumor is that Saab will present a plugin hybrid, once all the tours around the GM and the new owners are ready.
If no one wants to talk on the Saab. But the technology on their shelves. And the desire to catch up with the other in the hybrid group is large in Trollhättan.
However, it is difficult to know what a new owner has plans for the future.
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So who was to blame?
Maybe it was Saab’s own situation. Maybe it was GM’s situation.
Does it really matter?
The point it that it was another lost opportunity for a company that once had an incredibly progressive image to reclaim a little bit of that.
Hopefully we’ll get to a new ownership situation soon, and Saab can get a chance to show what they’ve been working on the lab. They’ve consistently said that hybrid technology is part of their future and I’m sure there’s something very, very good sitting there just waiting to be let loose on the world.
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Thanks Fredrik for the NyTeknik link!
by Swade
February 25, 2009 in News
Swedish nerd mag, Ny Teknik, has an article today speculating on Saab’s possible small car plans for the future.
This would no doubt be a vehicle similar to the 9-X BioHybrid in size and it sounds like they’re going to licence and play around with a bunch of technology from GM.
The article is in Swedish, but I’ve received an English translation via email:
Saab are currently (and secretly) developing a smaller car, with a cheap electrical hybrid solution. The car is based on GMs existing smaller Delta platform.
The new small Saab will compete with BMW1 series and Mercedes A-class
With the help of the hybrid solution, fuel consumption can be reduced to as low as 0,4 l/10km.
This is an attempt to regain the former Saab strength: smalls, fuel efficient cars with driving pleasure. The basic design of the engine taken from any of the GMs smaller engines. They are available in both petrol and diesel models from 3-cylinder to 1 liter and above.
The engine (diesel/petrol) is complemented with a hybrid solution based on a GM technology called BAS (Belt driven Alternater Starter) and consists of a combined start engine and a generator that replaces the more separated conventional start engine and generator.
The benefits with the BAS technology is that it take smaller space and can easily be incorporated in the existing Delta platform. This means reduced costs and shorter production time.
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I received an official comment from a Saab spokesman about this one, as follows:
“As our concept cars prove we have never been short of innovative ideas however we have not always had the opportunity to make them a reality.”
Read into that what you will, but I’d say they’re looking forward to the opportunity to do what they haven’t been able to do in the past.
In my mind, the next generation Saab 9-3 wouls have to be the biggest priority on Saab’s list, but if they could pull this car off in an inexpensive manner – and it sounds like most of the tech is quite well along the way – then it would be an absolute bonus.
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Thanks Anders!
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