Saab 9-5 BioPower

Press Release

page 1: Sporty performance
page 2: Towards a Greener Future
page 3: Sweden Leads Bioethanol Market
page 4: Booming Sales for Saab 9-5

Environmental care with sporty performance

Saab leads the premium segment in offering a model fuelled by bioethanol, an eco-friendly renewable energy source. The Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower is not only kinder to the environment, it also produces more power and performance than its gasoline equivalent. It is already an outstanding success in Sweden, where BioPower models account for about 70 per cent of all 9-5 sales, with more than 5,500 cars ordered since its launch last July.

The Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower combines the benefits of 'going green' with the enjoyment of sporty performance. It also offers a very practical solution to the environmental needs of customers because it can run, without adjustment from the driver, on bioethanol-based fuel or gasoline in any proportions.

Bioethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops, such as corn and sugar cane. Unlike gasoline, its consumption does not raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), the 'greenhouse' gas that contributes to global warming. This is because emissions during driving are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere when crops for conversion are grown. It is currently blended 85% bioethanol/15% gasoline and sold in Sweden as E85 fuel.

Running on E85, the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower engine delivers 180 bhp and 280 Nm of torque, compared to 150 bhp and 240 Nm when using gasoline, a significant 20 per cent increase in maximum power and 16 per cent more torque. This gives even sportier performance. In the 9-5 Sedan, zero to 100 kph dash can be accomplished in 8.5 secs and 80-120 kph in fifth gear in 12.6 secs, compared to 9.8 and 14.9 secs when running only on gasoline.

Tests in Sweden, where the pump price of E85 is 25 per cent less than gasoline, show that fuel costs in urban and mixed driving are broadly similar, although fuel consumption over the city cycle is about 30 per cent higher. .

The adaptability of Saab's powerful Trionic engine management system has facilitated re-programming to accommodate the different ignition timing and fuel/air mixture requirements of E85 fuel. Trionic monitors fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on E85 and/or gasoline in any combination. That means Saab BioPower drivers can also use gasoline, should E85 not be available.

E85 has a much higher octane rating (104 RON) than gasoline (95 RON), and turbocharging allows the use of a higher compression ratio - giving more engine power - and more advanced ignition timing than is possible with gasoline without risk of harmful 'knocking' or pre-detonation. The only hardware modifications necessary are more durable valves and valve seats, and the use of bioethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

During the development of the BioPower engine, Saab Powertrain engineers liaised with their General Motors colleagues in Brazil where 100 per cent bioethanol (E100), produced locally from sugar cane, is the dominant fuel on the market.

"Our engine management system automatically adjusts for the blend of fuel so, if there is no bioethanol available, the customer can simply run on gasoline at any time," says Kjell ac Bergström, Executive Director of Saab Automobile Powertrain AB. "Turbocharged engines are particularly well-suited to exploiting the benefits of bioethanol and our work with this engine indicates there is a great deal of development potential for this fuel."

Saab 9-5 BioPower models are now available with manual or automatic transmission in both Sedan and SportCombi bodystyles. As a next step in the current program, Saab is also planning to introduce more BioPower models to its product range later this year. A 400 bhp BioPower 2.8V6 turbo engine, running on E100 fuel, is also shown in the Saab Aero X concept car.

Pan-European Initiative

The EU is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, including the encouragement of a greater use of bio-fuels for road transport. And in the EU-backed BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) initiative, Saab 9-5 BioPower models are to participate in demonstrations this year in six EU countries, Holland, UK, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Sweden, as well as China and Brazil. Public authorities and large company fleet operators will have the opportunity to test and evaluate the on-road performance of bio-ethanol powered vehicles.

An EU directive on energy taxation currently requires member states to apply reduced taxation, or a complete exemption, for bio-fuels in pure or low blends. The process is already underway in Sweden. In addition to benefiting from E85 fuel that is 25 per cent cheaper than gasoline, Saab 9-5 BioPower customers are also exempted from city congestion and parking charges, as well as qualifying for a 20 per cent reduction in benefit tax if they are company car drivers.

Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower:

Technical Specifications

1,985 cc. Four cylinders in-line. Bore 90 mm, Stroke 78 mm

Cast iron block, alloy cylinder head.

DOHC chain-driven, 16-valves. Twin balancer shafts.

Turbocharged, intercooled.

Compression ratio, 9.3:1

Saab Trionic 7 engine management.

Direct ignition, multi-point fuel injection, electronic throttle control

Fuel	Gasoline	E85
EEC rating	150 bhp (110 kW) @ 5,500 rpm.	180 bhp (137 kW) @ 5,500 rpm.
EEC peak torque	240 Nm @ 1800-3500 rpm.	280 Nm @ 2,500-4,000 rpm.
Max boost Pressure	0.4 bar	0.95 bar

Performance* Sedan (Wagon)	Gasoline Manual	E85 Manual
0-100 km/h (sec)	9.8 (10.2)	8.5 (9.0)
60-100 kph (sec) 4th gear	9.6 (10.4)	8.6 (9.4)
80-120 kph (sec) 5th gear	14.9 (16.3)	12.6 (14.1)
Top Speed (kph)	215 (210)	225 (220)

Fuel Consumption* Sedan (Wagon)	Gasoline Manual	E85 Manual
Combined (l/100km)	9.0 (9.2)	No certification figures available

CO2 emissions* Sedan (Wagon)	Gasoline Manual	E85 Manual
g CO2 / km	214 (218)	Approx. 80 percent reduction of fossil CO2

*Preliminary figures

page 1: Sporty performance
page 2: Towards a Greener Future
page 3: Sweden Leads Bioethanol Market
page 4: Booming Sales for Saab 9-5

Saab BioPower: Towards a Greener Future

Recycling is well-established as a means of helping to safeguard the environment. Now Saab BioPower is applying the same principle: using bioethanol as a renewable fuel that 'recycles' carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere. It is 'green' power that's practical, sustainable, enhances engine performance and is available right now.

Sweden has a long cultural and political tradition of environmental respect and this is reflected in Saab's own achievements, from the pioneering introduction of asbestos-free brake linings to the removal of CFCs from air conditioning systems. Now Saab BioPower offers the prospect of countering one of the main threats to the global environment, the build-up of 'greenhouse' gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). BioPower's widespread adoption can also help overcome our historic dependency on fossil fuels.

In demonstrating the benefits of bioethanol as a fuel - it delivers more engine power as well as zero fossil CO2 emissions - Saab is supporting initiatives by the EU and the Swedish government to encourage the growth of bio-fuels. The outstanding success of Saab's current Saab 9-5 BioPower models, for example, shows how environmental benefits can be delivered with an even sportier level of performance.

"We have reached a turning point where action must be taken if we are to avoid a crisis in meeting our future energy needs for transport," says Jan Ã…ke Jonsson, Saab Automobile's Managing Director. "Bioethanol provides an effective first step. It is a bridge that can lead us from obsolete fossil fuels towards new, sustainable technologies."

Why BioPower

The use of bioethanol as a renewable fuel is a response to two global issues that must be addressed if the great mobility offered by road transport is to be sustained. First, there is an urgent need to combat the build-up of CO2 levels. Second, alternatives must be found to overcome our dependence on oil. Global resources will soon no longer be able to keep pace with rising demand and it is only a matter of time before supplies eventually run out completely.

A long-standing natural balance in global CO2 levels began to change more than a century ago, with the advent of industrialization built on the use of fossil energy. A UN body, the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), estimates that this process is largely responsible for generating a 35 per cent increase in the global level of atmospheric CO2.

While industrial processes in the developed world have improved, emissions of fossil CO2 from road transport continue to rise and are now widely recognized as a major cause of the 'greenhouse effect'. Unless action is taken, future prospects are bleak. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development estimates that in the next 25 years the world's vehicle population will double, largely due to huge growth in China and other developing economies.

The use of bioethanol as a fuel can help reverse this environmental trend because its consumption does not raise atmospheric levels of CO2. It is already produced commercially from agricultural crops; in Brazil from sugar cane and in the United States from corn. And in Sweden research is underway to produce it from cellulose in wood and forestry by-products.

Unlike gasoline or diesel, the consumption of bioethanol does not add more CO2 to the atmosphere because emissions during driving are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed through the process of photosynthesis when crops for conversion are grown. In this way, the CO2 already present in the atmosphere is simply recycled, whereas the use of a fossil fuel, such as gasoline, releases new amounts of CO2 which have been locked away underground for millions of years.

Practical solution

Bioethanol is already added in very small quantities (5 to 10 per cent) to most of the gasoline blends we use today. Its main attraction as an alternative fuel is the fact it is available here and now; there is no expensive investment required in new technologies and, as it is a liquid fuel just like gasoline and diesel, it can be conveniently distributed through existing supply infrastructures.

Its other great benefit is that it can be introduced in parallel with existing fuels. And 'flex-fuel' vehicles, such as the Saab 9-5 BioPower, can run without adjustment from the driver, on bioethanol (E85) or gasoline in any proportions. So a Saab BioPower driver can put gasoline in the tank at any time should E85 not be available.

BioPower is part of a three-pronged approach in General Motors' propulsion strategy for the future. In the near-term, the use of renewable fuels, such as bioethanol, and improvements to gasoline and diesel powertrains will provide a first step. Energy efficient hybrid vehicles, using electric power, will be the next development and fuel cells powered by hydrogen offer the ultimate environmental answer. These technologies are not mutually exclusive and can be used in parallel to allow convenient periods of transition.

Sporty solution

By combining bioethanol with turbocharging, Saab BioPower fully exploits the high octane performance of this fuel, as well as its environmental benefits. The technology is already well-proven by the outstanding sales success of the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower in Sweden.

Running on E85 (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline) fuel, which has an octane rating of 104 RON, compared to 95 RON for gasoline, it produces 20 per cent more maximum power and 16 per cent more maximum torque. This gives improved acceleration, with zero to 100 kph accomplished in 8.5 seconds, compared to 9.8 seconds for the 9-5 Sedan running on regular gasoline.

Turbocharging with bioethanol allows the use of a higher compression ratio - giving more engine power - and more advanced ignition timing than would be possible with gasoline, due to the risk of harmful 'knocking' or pre-detonation. The only hardware modifications necessary for the Saab 9-5 BioPower engine are the fitment of more durable valves and valve seats, together with bioethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

E85 fuel is currently adopted to overcome cold starting problems that may occur in freezing temperatures but Saab is already developing engines that can run in all conditions on pure E100, completely eliminating fossil fuel emissions. This technology, introduced on the BioPower 2.8V6 turbo engine in the Aero X Concept car, involves the use of spark ignited direct injection (SIDI), which gives BioPower engines the same starting performance as their gasoline counterparts.

European developments

The EU's latest directive on energy taxation, effective from 1 January 2004, calls on member states to apply reduced taxation, or a complete exemption, for bio-fuels in pure or low blends. It follows a parallel directive requiring member states to ensure bio-fuels account for an increasing proportion of energy needs in the road transport sector, with a target of 5.75 per cent by 2010.

Greater production of bioethanol in Europe could also benefit agriculture. Instead of continuing to accumulate large crop surpluses, farmers could contribute to a cleaner environment and help reduce Europe's dependency on fossil fuels by devoting large areas of land to crops for conversion.

The EU is also supporting the BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) initiative, which begins this year. Public authorities and company fleet operators in six EU countries (Holland, UK, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Sweden) will have the opportunity to test and evaluate the on-road performance of bio-ethanol powered vehicles, including the Saab 9-5 BioPower.

And in the United States, GM has announced plans to provide 50 to 100 flexible-fuel vehicles for California's Department of Transportation in a major E85 trial, which also involves local bioethanol fuel suppliers.

page 1: Sporty performance
page 2: Towards a Greener Future
page 3: Sweden Leads Bioethanol Market
page 4: Booming Sales for Saab 9-5

Sweden Leads European Bioethanol Market

Sweden is leading Europe in encouraging the growth of bioethanol as an eco-friendly renewable fuel. It is part of the government's strategy to free Sweden of dependency on oil by 2020.

There is nothing new about using bioethanol as a fuel. The first Model T Fords were designed to run on it and it has been used as an emergency back-up during times of war. However, once the world's reserves of cheap oil began to flow freely, alcohol-based fuels - whether bioethanol or methanol - quickly became a curiosity, confined almost exclusively for use in high-powered, competition engines.

Now, as the world begins to come to terms with the environmental fall-out of industrialisation and the prospect of diminishing oil supplies, bioethanol - a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral fuel - is back on the agenda. And in Sweden that means it is available at filling station pumps.

The Swedish government has already taken the decision to begin the process of switching road transport away from oil and Prime Minister Goran Persson has targeted 2020 as the year when the country can contemplate ending its dependency on fossil fuels altogether. The wide-scale production and use of bioethanol as a substitute will be one of its main weapons in helping the country to 'kick the oil habit'.

Distribution

There are two driving forces behind the adoption of a renewable and sustainable fuel such as bioethanol: the environmental need to combat climate change from the so-called 'greenhouse' effect and the strategic need to overcome dependency on oil, a finite resource for which global demand will exceed supply. As a nation, Sweden has a long tradition of environmental care and it is hardly surprising that it is one of the first countries in the industrialised world to begin to seriously address such issues.

Emissions of fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) from road transportation are widely recognized as a one reason for the 'greenhouse' effect and all its associated problems. In Sweden, for example, it is estimated that close to 40 per cent of all CO2 emissions are due to transport.

The first filling station with an E85 (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline) pump was established in 1995 but development was slow in view of the very small number of 'flex-fuel' cars on the road at that time. Steady expansion began in 2002 and last year (2005) the number of filling stations with E85 pumps doubled to more than 300, or about 10% of the national network.

This sudden growth has been further stimulated by the sales success of the Saab 9-5 BioPower. The government has also announced that by 2008, 25 per cent of the country's filling stations will be offering renewable fuels.

Production

There is currently only small scale, commercial production of bioethanol from wheat and barley in one region of Sweden, so most of the bioethanol required is imported from Brazil, the world's biggest bioethanol supplier. Nearly all Brazil's domestic road transport needs are met by bioethanol, which is produced locally from sugar cane, without any subsidy, at a lower cost than the world market price of gasoline.

The other main commercial producer of bioethanol is the United States, where it is produced in the mid-west region from corn and blended with gasoline to produce E10 (10 per cent bioethanol) fuel. As world oil prices continue to rise, US output has more than doubled in the last four years.

In Europe, Spain is currently the largest producer of bioethanol, supplying relatively small quantities from grain for use as an additive to gasoline. There are also small production facilities in France, using by-products from wine making, with plants also planned in Holland, Italy, Ireland, Germany and Portugal.

However, the most efficient feedstock for producing bioethanol is neither corn nor sugar, but 'bio-mass', in the form of straw, organic waste or wood clippings and forestry residue. Here bioethanol is produced from cellulose, instead of starch, and yields are higher as well as less energy intensive.

Sweden has a vast forestry resource and an industrial process for producing bioethanol from wood and forestry waste is being developed for large-scale commercial application.at ETEK's (Etanolteknik AB) R&D pilot plant at Örnsköldsvik. Seven more plants are planned in Sweden for the coming years.

To remove fossil CO2 completely from the environmental loop, emissions during the commercial production of bioethanol must also be minimized and modern processes are already moving towards a zero emission status. Success in achieving this will depend on the type of bio-mass raw material and production processes that are used. The ETEK plant is targeting, from a life cycle perspective, zero fossil emissions by utilising hydro-electric power.

In a comprehensive 2004 study, the International Energy Agency, an OECD organization, estimates there is enough global resource of bio-mass for biofuels such as bioethanol to meet two thirds of the world's current transport energy needs. And in the United States, research by General Motors indicates that 66-107 billion gallons of bioethanol could be produced annually from bio-mass, including dedicated energy crops such as switch grass, willows, poplars and sorghum. This would be sufficient to support a national E60/70 gasoline blend or directly replace about half the current 140 billion gallons of gasoline consumed annually in the United States.

Sweden leads Europe

The EU's latest directive on energy taxation, effective from 1 January 2004, calls on member states to apply reduced taxation or a complete exemption for bio-fuels in pure or low blends. It follows a parallel directive requiring member states to introduce measures that will ensure bio-fuels account for an increasing proportion of total energy consumption in the transport sector, reaching 5.75 per cent by the end of 2010.

In Sweden, E85 already accounts for 2.5 per cent of fuel for road transport, by far the highest proportion in any European market. Supportive government measures include favorable taxation for E85, tax incentives and free parking for users of flex-fuel cars, a requirement for government agencies to source at least 50 per cent of car fleets as eco-friendly vehicles and the introduction of city buses running on pure bioethanol.

"The Swedish government and its agencies are to be congratulated in rising to the challenge of meeting our future energy needs," says Saab Automobile's Managing Director, Jan Ã…ke Jonsson. " Much work has already been done and Sweden is in a strong position to lead and inspire the European development of bioethanol as a near to mid-term energy solution."

page 1: Sporty performance
page 2: Towards a Greener Future
page 3: Sweden Leads Bioethanol Market
page 4: Booming Sales for Saab 9-5

Booming Sales for Saab 9-5 BioPower

Saab is struggling to keep pace with customer demand for its new 9-5 BioPower model as thousands of drivers in Sweden switch from gasoline to enjoy the environmental and performance benefits of bioethanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel.

More than 5,500 cars have been ordered since sales began in Sweden in July last year and the Saab 9-5 BioPower is now established as the country's top selling environmentally-friendly vehicle (ELV), outselling all its competitors put together.

About 4,000 cars had been delivered by the end of December, with average customer waiting times now about two months. A shortage of demonstrator cars has meant that many customers are placing orders without even taking a test drive. In view of such strong demand, Saab has increased its 2006 sales forecast to 9,000 units, twice the original estimate.

BioPower Sedans and SportCombis currently account for about 70 per cent of all Swedish 9-5 sales and this proportion is expected to increase still further as automatic transmission became available from January this year. Sales have also begun outside Sweden for the first time, with 9-5 BioPower models launched in the UK, Norway and Germany at the end of last year and plans to roll-out product in other European markets (amongst them Denmark and France).

Saab leads Europe's premium car segment is offering a car fuelled by bioethanol. The Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower is not only environmental friendly, it also produces more power and performance than its gasoline-only equivalent. And it is also a very practical solution because the engine can run, without adjustment from the driver, on bioethanol-based fuel (E85) or gasoline in any proportions. That means a Saab BioPower driver can always put gasoline in the tank at any time should E85 not be available.

Demand is particularly strong in the corporate and fleet sector, as indicated by a recent order for a total of 400 cars from rental operator Avis. The adoption of Saab BioPower also helps many companies and public authorities meet their ISO 14001 environmental standards.

Bioethanol is produced commercially from agricultural crops and supplied conveniently through the existing filling station infrastructure. Unlike gasoline, the consumption of pure bioethanol fuel does not raise overall atmospheric levels of the 'greenhouse' gas carbon dioxide (CO2). This is because emissions during driving are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere when crops for conversion are grown.

In contrast, the consumption of a fossil fuel, such as gasoline, adds 'new' CO2 to the atmosphere, instead of 'recycling' what is already there. In Sweden, bioethanol is blended (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline) and sold as E85 fuel so its use yields a net reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 80% compared to gasoline.

Running on E85, the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower engine delivers 180 bhp and 280 Nm of torque, compared to 150 bhp and 240 Nm when using gasoline, a significant 20 per cent increase in maximum power and 16 per cent more torque. This gives even sportier performance. The 9-5 sedan can accomplish the zero to 100 kph dash in 8.5 secs and 80-120 kph in fifth gear in 12.6 secs, compared to 9.8 and 14.9 secs when running only on gasoline.

Pan-European Initiative

An EU directive on energy taxation enables member states to apply reduced taxation, or a complete exemption, in order to encourage the use of bio-fuels in pure or low blends. The process is already underway in Sweden. In addition to benefiting from E85 fuel that is 25 per cent cheaper than gasoline, Saab 9-5 BioPower customers are also exempted from city congestion and parking charges, as well as qualifying for a 20 per cent reduction in benefit tax if they are company car drivers.

The EU is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, including the encouragement of a greater use of bio-fuels for road transport, and Saab 9-5 BioPower models are also to participate in demonstrations under the EU's BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) initiative, which begins this year. Public authorities and large company fleet operators in six EU countries (Holland, UK, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Sweden) will have the opportunity to test and evaluate the on-road performance of bio-ethanol powered vehicles.