KERS in de nieuwe 9-3!

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The upcoming 9-3 will get optional four wheel drive. But this will not be the traditional mechanical four wheel drive. Instead the car will use Saab's in house developed electric rear axle, in Saab language dubbed eXWD (electric cross wheel drive).

The idea to develop an electric rear axle was conceived back in 2007 and the secret project grew bigger during 2008. And "as usual", GM had no idea what Saab's engineers were up to. When Saab was bought by Spyker in 2010, the project came to the surface and the management and the new owner quickly saw that this was a valuable asset if handled the right way. Saab then searched for the best possible partner to help market and produce the rear axle and found American Axle & Manufacturing, a company with much experience in mass producing drive lines and transmission, but with limited competence on electric hybrid systems. Competence Saab would bring to the partnership. A perfect partner for Saab.

So in the rear the next 9-3 will use Saab's in house developed electric rear axle. This will give the car four wheel drive with the internal combustion engine driving the front wheels and the electric motor driving the rear wheels. The electric motor will source its power from an air cooled 1.1 kW/h lithium ion battery pack, which will be charged through regenerative braking. The rear axle will provide the car with electric power boost, torque vectoring and traction support.

The eXWD module from e-AAM

The great thing about the eXWD system is that it will not just give the car four wheel drive without fuel penalty – as the rear wheels are driven by regenerated energy from braking – it will actually reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emission up to 30 percent as the rear motor will take some strain off the internal combustion engine. The system is most fuel efficient in urban driving and low speeds when the car can go more or less just on electric power. In higher speeds the systems next big advantage is evident when torque vectoring gives excellent handling and grip through curves. Mangnus Rydell, sales manager at e-AAM, says that the system has a two year lead on the competitors.

Best of all about the eXWD system, unlike most hybrid systems, it is very affordable. A Saab with the eXWD drive will not cost more than a current XWD Saab.

So the eXWD system fits perfectly into Saab's vision of responsible performance, i.e. to reduce consumption and emission, but without compromising handling or the enjoyment of driving.

Bron: http://www.lifewithsaab.com/2011/06/rec ... ement.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Miguel93]

Ik ben alvast te vinden voor dit soort technologie! Laat maar (snel) komen...