The question remains is there a mass market for EVs or just an endless series of demonstrations?
Saab Automobile is taking its first step toward developing an all-electric vehicle and plans to show off an experimental Saab 9-3 ePower at the Paris Auto Show at the end of the month.
While Saab has been independent for a short time, what’s scheduled to be unveiled in Paris is a prototype for a test fleet of 70 vehicles which will participate in extensive field trials in Sweden early next year, Saab officials said.
Jan Ake 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 program is our first step towards developing a potential production vehicle that will deliver the sort of advanced performance our customers expect,” Jonsson said.
A small demonstration program is planned at this time in Sweden.
“We’re hoping we can get some of them over here (in the U.S.),” he said.
Saab’s plan is to evaluate electric 9-3ePowerunder a variety of real world driving conditions as part of the development process for a purpose-built, electric vehicle that could be added to the Saab line in the future.
“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 Fagerhag, 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,” he said.
The Saab ePower resulted from a collaboration involving Saab Automobile, Boston Power, Electroengine in Sweden, Innovatum and Power Circle, Sweden’s electric power industry trade organization.
Targets to be verified include a projected driving range of approximately 200 kilometers or about 132 miles through the use of high density energy storage in lithium-ion battery cells, Saab officials said.