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Under the stewardship of Spyker, Saab seems to have gained a new lease on life. Having launched the all-new Saab 9-5, and armed with plans for future products, Saab has moved forward on plans to produce an electric car.
As we previously reported, the fleet of electric vehicles will be based on Saab’s 9-3. According to a report by British magazine Autocar, Saab’s fleet of electric 9-3 sedans will represent the Swedish automaker’s first mainstream foray into alternative powertrain technology. The test fleet will be a collaborative effort between Saab and outside suppliers.
U.S.-based Boston-Power will provide lithium-ion batteries, and the Swedish Energy Authority and Electroengine will represent Sweden’s effort in the project. Electroengine is a developer of electric vehicle technology, and showcased technology to retrofit gas-powered cars as electric cars on a prototype 9-3 late last year.
“The main purpose is to draw technology from this test fleet, technology that we can then incorporate quickly,” Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson told Autocar.
No time frame has been announced for a possible EV rollout by Saab, but we’ve speculated early 2011. With a new 9-3 likely due out by 2013, designed by a man with an impressive resume, would you be interested in an electric Saab? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Source: Autocar
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