Saab to debut ePower EV prototype in Paris

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Saab to debut ePower EV prototype in Paris

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Sep 17th 2010 at 1:29PM

Saab is planning to introduce its first real foray into the EV world at this year's Paris Motor Show. Called the ePower, the long-roof Swede is the prototype for a test fleet of 70 vehicles set to be launched next year. The company is shooting for a range of around 124 miles thanks to a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, though the range figure number is somewhat fluid due to the fact that it will be largely dependent on driving habits. Power is supplied by a 184-horsepower electric motor mated to a single-speed transmission.

With all of that grunt on tap, Saab says the ePower will be able to get to 60 miles per hour in around 8.5 seconds. That's not exactly slow by anyone's measure. Top speed is a more than capable 93 mph, too.

The company says that its battery tech should allow the cells to survive up to 10 years of regular charge and discharge cycles, and that the ePower can be fully charged in as little as six hours using a "domestic mains" supply. Don't worry – we aren't exactly sure what that means, either. Stay tuned for more information from the Paris Motor Show later this month. For now, click past the jump for a look at the full press release.

link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/17/saab-9-3-epower-to-make-paris-debut/

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Saab Reveals its First-Ever Pure Electric Model: 9-3 ePower to Debut in Paris

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

This month's Paris International Motor Show will host the world premiere of Saab's first ever EV, the 9-3 ePower. Based on the SportWagon variant of the current 9-3, the prototype model will lead to a test fleet of 70 vehicles that will participate in field trials in Sweden early next year.

The car is motivated by a 184HP electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. Energy is provided by a compact 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located in a modified floor-pan, in a space occupied by the exhaust system and fuel tank on the standard 9-3 SportWagon

The Swedish automaker says the EV can accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in a respectable 9.5 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 150km/h or 93mph.

The projected driving range on a full charge is approximately 200 kilometers or about 124 miles. Saab said the battery can be fully recharged from a domestic mains supply in three to six hours, depending on depletion status. However, the company claims charging times can be reduced significantly if the voltage of the electrical feed is raised.

The only noteworthy styling changes over the regular gasoline/diesel models concerns the new gearshift lever that provides selection of 'drive', 'neutral', 'park' and 'reverse', the revised instrument cluster that gains read-outs for battery status, power consumption and driving range, as well as the addition of an electric park brake.

Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile's CEO said: "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 programme is our first step towards developing a potential production vehicle that will deliver the sort of advanced performance our customers expect."

The 9-3 ePower is the 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).

link:

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/09/saab-reveals-its-first-ever-pure.html

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Saab to debut first electric car

Brad Constant

AutoWeek -- September 20, 2010 06:01 CET

Saab's first electric car will debut on the Swedish automaker's stand at the Paris auto show Sept. 30.

The ePower, a converted Saab 9-3 SportsCombi wagon, is equipped with a 184-hp electric motor. Saab says the ePower will have a top speed of 150kph (93 mph), and travel up to 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge.

Saab engineers fit the ePower's lithium-ion battery pack into the space that normally would be taken up by the exhaust and fuel systems. The batteries can be recharged in three to six hours, Saab says.

The automaker plans to build a fleet of 70 ePowers to be tested in Sweden, beginning next spring.

Saab is also using the Paris show to roll out three new four-cylinder powertrains for the 9-5:

• A 2.0-liter turbocharged BioPower engine will run on E85 and produce 220 hp at its peak.

• A new 2.0-liter two-stage turbocharged diesel will produce 190 hp. It can propel the 9-5 from 0 to 62 mph in less than 9 seconds.

• A 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine will accelerate the 9-5 from 0 to 62 mph in 9.5 seconds and is rated at 180 hp.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100920/COPY/309209949/1130#ixzz106Goa3nV