Phoenix in the Netherlands: the first SAAB EV

A top speed of 70 km / h and a range of 65 km. The first 100% electric SAABs rolled off the manufacturing belt in 1974 at a cost of SEK 14 million. Only one of the six prototypes built in its original state and this unique car was handed over to a delegation from NEVS on Saturday in the Netherlands witnessed by nearly 250 SAAB enthusiasts. Phoenix rising from its ashes in a brand new SAAB showroom.

SAAB_EV_Saabpartners

Saab Partners
Initiative takers for the ceremony were Dirk Koppen and Bas Smit, owners of Saabpartners. Saabpartners is a relatively new company that was started in 2011, right around the time of the Saab Automobile bankruptcy. While they initially primarily focused on spare parts and specialized in engines and gear boxes, they now significantly expanded their operations through the opening of Saab Youngtimer Lease. Many people asked Dirk why he and he business partner Bas started this new company then and why they are expanding so significantly now- "if we didn't have full faith in the business model and the fact that ultimately we'll be seeing some great things coming from Trollhättan again, we would never have done it".

Re-björn in Holland
"With the right spare parts, a SAAB can easily drive more than a million kilometers"Says Dirk. "After some years, things can take a while to go SAAB you want to have a car at its best at all times.SAABs want to continue doing so, but are struggling given that there are not any new SAABs for sale at the moment. Saab Youngtimer Lease is a new business model and is addressing this issue by completely revamping SAAB's. The customer can select the model and the Saabpartners team build essentially new car to the customer specifications including new engine, rims, seats, dashboard, etc. They even add aftermarket entertainment systems and back cameras or engine tuning from Maptun Performance and different leasing options are available. So you could say the cars are re-born (or "re-björn" in Saabpartners' creative language) in Holland ...

The first SAAB EV back to its roots
Some 250 witnesses not only the official opening of the new Saab Youngtimer Lease showroom, but also the handover of the first SAAB EV to the delegation from NEVS. Royal Commissioner Jacques Tichelaar talked to SAAB and the Prime Minister Mark Rutte is driving one!

NEVS continues to build cars in Trollhattan
Frank Smit and Hans-Martin then captured the audience with a presentation about the future of NEVS, which was very much in line with Mattias Bergman's earlier speech, They reemphasized the NEVS vision and confirmed they are on track to start building cars in Trollhättan again. The first SAAB EV wants in any case to be transported back to Sweden in the next few weeks where it wants to get a prominent place on the factory grounds.

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One of the leading car magazines in the Netherlands, Autovisie, interviewed Dirk:

Dirk Koppen: The car is made in collaboration between SAAB and the Swedish Mail. Swedish Mail has come to the conclusion that they could not deliver mail in the future using fossil fuels. In Sweden, you have to keep in mind, so long distances are really necessary.

Q: I do not want to insult anyone, but this is not the world's most beautiful car, right?
A: No, not really. I believe that the practical side is the primary goal in this project. Look, the steering wheel is placed on the right side. All the mail could be delivered without leaving the car. Actually in the back of the car, all the parcels could be loaded so the car is very practical, almost like a small van.

Q: How much SAAB is this car actually?
A: Well, what not? The most important part is the chassis. The wheels, the bumpers, the steering wheel. You can see that they are borrowed from a few other car manufacturers. As an example, SAAB did not have these straight tail lights, which may have come from a Volkswagen, and you can see some more style elements from that time. SAAB design elements like the wheels, but also the lock to close the hood with. That's the same lock on the SAAB 95 and rear window from the SAAB Sonnet.

Q: This car is still in the Netherlands, even wearing Dutch registration plates, but that's going to change fast, right?
A: Correct! We acquired this car from a private collection. On the occasion of the opening of our new showroom we wanted to present this car to NEVS, and they said yes. In fact they are partly funded.

Q: So, NEVS, remind me what this stands for? This is the electric successor to SAAB, right?
A: NEVS stands for National Electric Vehicle Sweden and they are the new owners of the SAAB factories in Trollhättan. So the car goes back to its roots, to the factory in Trollhättan.

Q: Will it be stored somewhere in a warehouse and collect dust?
A: Well not really, it wants to be placed at the entry of factory, in the visitor area.

Q: What are the specs of this car?
A: Its top speed is 70 km / h and its range is 75 km. After that the batteries where exchanged. They were using the old traction batteries so they want to be able to find in forklift trucks. This car uses 14 of these batteries and when they were depleted all the batteries were just swapped out in one go. You can see this at the back, a nice detail. There is a long shelf that holds all the batteries, so the whole shelf is being replaced. A very efficient system actually!

Photo copyright: Jos Schuurman press agency and Lennard Schaap.

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Dirk Koppen
Dirk Koppen
8 years earlier

Look here: As Tim Oelschlager said about VW, one can laugh ...

The reporter made a clear statement and wants to have ……… yes, electric engines!

http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/volkswagen-lasst-vw-pleitegehen-kolumne-a-1061431.html

Herbert Hürsch
Herbert Hürsch
8 years earlier

Thanks Michèl,

very interesting. Especially the “Re-Björn” business. I guess from all SAAB drivers around the globe, the Dutch are the most committed and enthusiastic ones. Please keep it up. I'd like to read more about it.

Tim Oelschlaeger
8 years earlier

@Detlef: The guys are doing a very good job holding up the SAAB flag and believing in the future of NEVS and a new E-SAAB. What the old e-mobile should show is that SAAB built an electric vehicle for test purposes even before 41 years ago. And they also get a lot of 9-5 and 9-3. At the moment you can laugh about VW. What would have happened if the exhaust scandal 2006 had become known? The Swedes would have bought instead of Volkswagen and AUDI SAABs and VOLVOs and brought out GM 9-5 II estate and 9-4X. But would have been if. In any case, certainly not every fan of SAAB knew this funny scooter and sometimes one gets the impression that ALL car manufacturers have always made their electric cars as ugly as possible so that they do not get into trouble with intelligence services of petroleum-producing countries.

Mountain goat
Mountain goat
8 years earlier

Quote: ... sometimes you can't get rid of the impression that ALL automakers have always designed their electric cars as ugly as possible so that they don't get into trouble with the secret services of oil-producing countries.
A perfectly legitimate thought ...
Once the “bugbear” haunts the media = brains, the potential buyers have long since jumped off ... :-(
Fortunately, TESLA z. Currently more positive!

Willem de Gooier
Willem de Gooier
8 years earlier

then unfortunately you should have to wait, it will take a while ……. We're talking about the past and that Saab has been dealing with electric cars for a long time.

Detlef Rudolf
Detlef Rudolf
8 years earlier

Should you laugh or cry ...

We finally want to be presented with a real “electric car”!