2011 Saab ePower
Saab ePower.A 135 kW (184 horsepower) electric motor drives the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. Saab says the air-cooled battery pack can still deliver its full power at negative 22 degrees Fahrenheit, roughly 18 degrees below most other lithium-ion packs. Saab's own engine management system was tweaked to control the electric driveline, while gauges were revised to indicate both range remaining and battery charge levels. Electric power steering is fitted, and a new air conditioning is also powered by the lithium-ion battery pack.
Saab Automobile is taking its first step towards developing an all-electric vehicle with the Saab 9-3 ePower.
This all-electric family estate represents an important step forward for Saab’s pursuit of delivering cleaner and sustainable mobility solutions.
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. 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 SportWagon with zero emissions
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 124 miles pushes out the boundaries for current EV performance. 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. The 9-3 ePower meets the high crash-worthiness standards that Saab applies to all its vehicles. The battery management and monitoring system supports safe performance during normal driving and in crash conditions.
Extensive user trials
The Saab ePower project team in Trollhättan will monitor the performance of the cars across a wide variety of usage patterns and driving conditions.
