| Why complicate Saab electricity projects |
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Saab EV ePower is more than a year overdue. Just a prototype battery that can handle 20 miles of range has been built. Serial production of new Saabs have, with few exceptions, stalled since April. Meanwhile, the company's development engineers have worked on with the highly acclaimed electric car, to be clear 20 miles of range.
Though it has been a break in production, technology development never
stands still, says Thomas Ahlqvist, who heads the project at Saab.
Although Saab's Chinese partners Pang Da and Youngman have shown
interest ePower. The project has been beneficial in investment talks,
according to new technology called.
The test fleet of 70 test cars with resources for 20 mile range, would
have begun to be built during previous autumn. But what exists today is
six test cars - one with the large battery pack of 35.5 kWh (previously
15kWh), and that can run 20 mil without a recharge.
The battery pack was delivered to Saab in early July and the car rolled at Saab's test track in a few weeks.
We glide in the previous schedule. We underestimated the difficulties of
the battery system, to get it to work in a good way, says Thomas
Ahlqvist.
Of an application for additional funds to the Energy Agency in the
spring is clear that the extension of battery capacity, as well as
subsequent "major changes in the body and interior," was a heavy factor.
The single battery pack now weighs 370 kg.
Is the battery problem solved now?
Yes, now we think we are on track, says Thomas Ahlqvist.
What has been the most difficult challenge?
It's all about calculations, expected error takes the wrong decision. The car itself has not been a problem. It is instead the integration with the battery system, which has tangled, he describes.
The state contributed the first 87 million of the 200-million kronor
project, of which 60 million came directly from the Department of
Commerce.
Last spring, upholstered Energy Agency in ten million due to battery
problems become more expensive developments. While Saab went in with an
extra 30 million.
Is the company bankrupt, it is hoped the Energy Agency that the project
manager Innovatum will drive it on with another vehicle partner.
It is certainly the hope, said Peter Kasche, administrator for the agency.
The lack of components of Saab in general is no concern for the
development of electric cars. Material supply for the electric car is
secured, according to Thomas Ahlqvist.
The plan now is to "get a head start building and then come out with a
batch test cars when they are validated, approved and certified."
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