Saab launches 'green' 9-5
Bio-fuelled car offers increased performance
Saab 9-5 BioPower
The bio-powered motor cuts fossil CO2 emissions by up to 70 per cent said Saab, while delivering maximum power of 210bhp and 229lb-ft of torque, 14 per cent more power and 11 per cent more torque when running on bioethanol E85 fuel compared to when running on petrol.
The manual saloon accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds, compared to 8.5 seconds when running only on petrol. Saab's Trionic engine management system monitors fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on bioethanol E85 and/or petrol in any combination.
BioPower technology allows Saab cars to combine a reduction in CO2 emissions with improved performance. A further practical advantage of the BioPower formula allows customers to run on petrol and/or bioethanol E85 fuel in any proportion with no adjustments needed by the driver.
Bioethanol E85 has a much higher octane rating (107 RON in the UK) than standard unleaded petrol (95 RON), and turbocharging allows the use of a higher boost pressure and more advanced ignition timing – giving more engine power than is possible on petrol 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.
Bioethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops, such as corn, grain, sugar beet and sugar cane. Unlike petrol, its consumption does not significantly raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), which scientific research suggests is a major contributor 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.
“I have been delighted to see such an upsurge of interest in the UK’s emerging bioethanol industry during the course of 2006,” said Saab UK boss Jonathan Nash. “Saab has been at the forefront of this movement right from the start, and now our efforts are beginning to pay off. We’re starting to see all of the pieces of the jigsaw come together at last; flex-fuel cars are appearing on UK roads, bioethanol E85 pumps are being installed at a growing number of supermarket petrol forecourts, factories which produce the ethanol are starting to be built, and UK farmers are starting to be paid to grow crops, instead of not to grow them!”
Available in a choice of Saloon and Estate bodystyles with manual or automatic transmission, the 9-5 2.3t BioPower is also for sale in Ireland and Nordic markets, with other European countries to follow later this year.
The Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower goes on sale in the UK on Monday 20 November with OTR prices starting at £23,270.
This isn't the ulimate BioPower 9-5 either. Did anybody else see the 9-5 Aero BioPower and MPH this year. It's got 310 bhp that's 50bhp more than the standard Aero. Scary thing is, it all goes through the front wheels via a manual 'box. It'll be interesting to see what happens if they adapt the 9-3 2.8 V6 turbo for Bio Ethanol.
But will the UK Government listen? Will it follow the rest of Europe in incentivising Biofuels?
Of course not - they're addicted to fuel tax so they can't imagine a life without it, and they know that a biofuel economy would hand a great deal of influence over to Africa and South America, and we can't be having that now can we, not when BP are so handy with their cheques...
I really wish this government would get real about alternative fuels. They're not showing any love for the planet in doing this - just utter contempt for the man in the street.
...and yes, I'd love to have a spin in that hopped up 9-5 @ MPH - studded tyres on ice, of course....
also how much is the fuel?
whats the fuel consumption on bio-ethanol?
As unless the fuel cost is about 2/3rds that of petrol its not going to be worthwhile as stoichmetric with ethanol is about 9:1......
Very laudable all the same lets see what Mr blair etc tax it all at
Matt
...and yes, I'd love to have a spin in that hopped up 9-5 @ MPH - studded tyres on ice, of course....
I hope so too.
I've been researching this for a story recently. Thing is, the rest of the world really is beginning to take note of biofuels, and some are even drawing up plans for an international biofuel trading structure. There are already agreements between many South American nations and US fuel distributors (particularly in California). Biofuels have been used in South and Central America since time immemorial.
There's a pan-European agreement on biofuels that the UK wants nothing to do with. In Sweden (and many other European mainland countries), biofuels are almost tax-free, and biofuel users don't have to pay road tolls. Also, any indirect-injection engine can run on biofuels, so it's not like you have to buy a special car to use them.
But in this country? No word from the government, only 20p less tax than full-fat unleaded, two filling stations in the entire country that stock it...
Do you know which country is the only other to display a similar total lack of interest in Biofuel trading? Take a guess? No?
It's China.
So, Blair has decided that, in order to prove that 'Britain is the world leader on climate change issues', he's decided to ideologically side with the '#1 country most likely to f
k up the planet'. And all for the sake of paying for a war no-one wanted.
Blair, there's your 'legacy'. Now
off.Theoretically, it is infinitely replenishable. If all countries grew it, we could replace oil (however, this would economically devastate Middle Eastern desert nations and the countries that rely on their oil contracts - remind you of anyone?)
Basically, it's glucose plant extract - aka methanol - typically from sugar beet, but it can also be derived from oilseed rape and a number of grasses. It has the power to bring Africa into the developed world (America wouldn't like that - a potential United States of Africa with a completely renewable oil economy that counteracts deforestation).
The methanol is mixed in a 85%-15% mixture with 15% petroleum (this is present to ensure the fuel ignites, but if you think about it, it has the effect of reducing fossil fuel use by 85%). Engine uses it as it would existing high-octane fuel.
Bring it in across the board, convert every car to run on it and the term 'gas guzzler' ceases to have meaning...
Again, Gordon wouldn't like that.
The only problem with ethanol is that it currently, without tax, costs more to produce than petrol.
With the price of oil going up the difference is getting less. It is just reaching the tipping point where the big companies are looking at going into major ventures in ethanol production - Roquette, a French owned company in Corby, is building a big plant now to produce ethanol from wheat - large scale production will produce a price drop. Where is the price of oil going?
The beauty of the situation is that we get a better fuel to run our motors on - and no environmental impact. No London Congestion Charge. Cheap road tax.
What excuse can Gordon think of next?
Gavin
But that would be too much like an incentive in the UK...and where's the (tax) money in that...
But that would be too much like an incentive in the UK...and where's the (tax) money in that...
Good news - one of the Conservatives current (few) policies is to roll out biofuels across the country and incentivise their use. OK so they agree with higher 'band G' taxes, but if we can run our Band G cars on biofuels and LPG - doesn't matter then does it?
Compared to Labour - tax the hell out of everything
Liberal Democrats - what's a biofuel?
Green Party - opposed to biofuels, nuclear power and just about everything, for no apparent reason (but we all know it's because their primary interest is in bringing the economy down)
The Green party just doesn't want to know about anything else then getting back to the stone age without cars etc etc. but with more emancipated women (I'm not being sexist here, but the green party here is run by some woman who is incredibly irritating and always has some sexist remakrs against men.)
Socialist party are just a bunch of communists who want to tax the shit out of everyone and bring us to economic disaster.
etc.
Promote Bio-ethanol it's brilliant and should be used!!!
Ethanol has been blended into petrol in Sweden for a long time (at least 10 years), all current petrol are actually E5 fuel, as it contains 5% ethanol.
Regarding diesels, those can also be run on renewable fuels such as bio-diesel, which is processed from vegetable oils.
www.theolivepress.es/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=267&Itemid=59
Is bio-ethanol better?
Sir Richard Branson has apparently bought a Saab 9-5 BioPower.
www.saab.co.uk/main/GB/en/pressreleases/2/index.xml
And I'd also like to add that due to the recent fall of oil prices many of the E85 cars in Sweden currently run on petrol since it is cheaper at the moment. It is not cheaper per litre, but since fuel consumption gets a bit higher when you run on E85, petrol is currently a bit cheaper to use.
On the positive side is that I can't see that petrol will be cheaper in the long run and you still get tax reduction and free parking in many cities here.
\ Johan
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