Saab using UQM Technologies 135 kW electric drive system in 9-3 ePower EV test fleet vehicles
02 February 2011
Saab has selected UQM Technologies to provide PowerPhase 135 kW electric propulsion systems to drive its all-electric Saab 9-3 ePower (earlier post) 70-vehicle development test fleet. Initial deliveries began in the third calendar quarter of 2010 (UQM previously announced these as an order from “an international OEM”) and will continue through CY 2011.
The 9-3 ePower program is the first step towards developing a potential Saab production vehicle. The PowerPhase 135kW—based on the PowerPhase 100kW motor and upgraded controller—features a 135 kW/181 hp electric motor and advanced control system.
Saab will use the UQM propulsion system with a single-speed transmission; the company has published performance estimates of 100 km/hr (62 mph) acceleration in just 8.5 seconds together with a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). Saab will begin field trials of the test fleet in Sweden early this year.
This order from Saab reinforces our ability to meet the performance, quality and cost needs of international automobile companies developing electric and hybrid vehicles. The PowerPhase 135kW systems for Saab are being built on our validated production lines with annual capacity of 40,000 systems. These production lines are among the many steps we have taken to fully prepare UQM to grow from test-fleet programs to production fulfillment.
—Eric Ridenour, President and CEO of UQM Technologies
UQM is also providing a 100 kW system and controller to CODA Automotive for the drive system of its electric sedan.
Battery pack. The ePower drive system will be powered by a 35.5 kWh battery pack comprising Swing 4400 (4.4Ah) Li-ion cells (earlier post) from Boston Power; projected driving range is 200 km (124 miles).
The Swing 4400 cell has a volumetric energy density of 420 Wh/L and gravimetric density of 180 Wh/kg. In his presentation at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) last week in Pasadena, Boston Power chief technology officer Per Onnerud said that the company has already proven the chemistry for its Gen 2 Swing cell—targeted for release later this year—featuring a 20% boost in volumetric energy density to 500 Wh/l, and an increase in gravimetric energy density to 210 Wh/kg.
For the Gen 3 Swing, the company is targeted 550 Wh/L and 230 Wh/kg.
"featuring a 20% boost in volumetric energy density to 500 Wh/l, and an increase in gravimetric energy density to 210 Wh/kg."
OK. But we really expect to see 300-350Wh/kg by 2015 model year.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 02 February 2011 at 06:09 AM
Step-by-step..
Posted by: kelly | 02 February 2011 at 07:03 AM
Don't make perfect the enemy of good enough.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 02 February 2011 at 08:28 AM
Yeah, it looks like a good product with good incremental progress on the battery front. Boston Power's batteries are better for their cycle life rather than energy density.
They claim 1,000+ cycles at 100% DOD which means that they have a great "effective" energy density. They also have a pretty good power density.
It will be interesting to see which batteries emerge over the next few years as the winners when you take into account all the different factors (cost, energy density, power density, cycle life, shelf life, safety).
Boston Power seems to have a good offering in most of these categories. Not "great" in energy density, but decent.
Posted by: DaveD | 02 February 2011 at 09:24 AM
Since battery technologies are evolving very fast, no single battery manufacturer may stay in the winner's position for a very long time.
Many have already reached or are near ePower's 3rd generation goals.
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 February 2011 at 09:17 AM
Why a central electric engine, that requires transmissions to the weels ? Why not downsizing that to 4 x electric engines, one per weel, or 2 x one per axis, and no transmission in between ?
Posted by: CARL75014 | 05 February 2011 at 02:16 AM
It may be the easier way to convert existing ICE vehicle to electrified units. Do the least or minimum changes.
Posted by: HarveyD | 06 February 2011 at 06:11 AM