Initial reports say that Saab's first electric can recharge fully in three to six hours from a plug-in wall outlet; that time reportedly can be cut significantly with a higher-voltage power source. Saab says that the battery pack can operate at full capacity even at temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit -- 10 degrees lower than the operating level of other battery packs on the market, according to the Swedish manufacturer.

Saab Automobile CEO Jan Ake Jonsson told Gizmag:
“By 2015, annual global sales of electric vehicles are expected to reach 500,000 units and Saab is determined to be represented in this important, growing segment.”

Seventy vehicles will go into testing next year, driven by Swedish individuals and families, and performance data will be monitored by black-box-style in-vehicle recorders.