During a media launch of the new Saab 9-5, Saab’s top management have confirmed that they are due to launch a fleet of test vehicles which will be a 100% electric vehicles based on the new 9-3 in the first quarter of 2011. The EV fleet will be tested globally including Saab’s home town Trollhattan, Sweden. The Saab EV vehicles are being launched in partnership with Massachusetts based Boston Power, who produce lithium-ion batteries and electroengine. There is also a Swedish company who state that they have developed an electric propulsion system that can adapt standard vehicles with internal combustion engines to high performance electric engines. A third partner is the Swedish Energy Authority. Saab CEO, Jan Ake Jonsson who was also present stated ‘The main purpose is to draw technology from this test fleet, technology that we can incorporate quickly’, he also carried on to say that he believed the short term goal is to drive fuel consumption down and you can electrify certain portions of the car.
