Q. If bioethanol fuel is such a good idea, why is it not commonly available?

A. Fossil fuels have historically been our prime source of energy but now, as we look at renewable fuels that are less harmful to the environment, vehicles such as the 9-5 and 9-3 BioPower show that a fuel such as bioethanol can be an alternative for road transport. Look at what's already happening in Sweden and Brazil.

Q. Is it possible to produce enough bioethanol to fuel Europe's - or even the world's - car population?

A. Not overnight, of course. There would be a period of transition. But given the right market conditions, there is every reason to believe that enough land and resources are available to produce commerically viable quantities.

Q. How much CO2 is released per km when driving on E85 verus petrol?

A. If the increase in fuel consumption, when driving on E85, is taken into account then the reduction of fossil CO2 in the tailpipe would be 80% compared with petrol.

Q. How is ethanol produced?

A. Ethanol is an alcohol distilled commerically from grain, cellulose or sugar cane. It has been produced from sugar cane for many years in Brazil and also from corn in the mid-west of the United States. In Sweden, it is produced from wood pulp and forest residues. Feasibility studies for ethanol from lignocelluloses are currently being done.

Q. How about production of ethanol? We hear some people claiming that the rainforest is sacrificed for growing of sugar cane.

A. Not at all true. On the contrary the soil where the rainforest grow is not at all suitable for sugar cane. It rains too much in the areas of rainforest to suit the growing of sugar cane.

Q. What about the amount of fossil energy required to produce ethanol?

A. Brazil, which is currently the largest producer of bioethanol in the world, produces and consumes bioethanol with a net saving of fossil carbon dioxide of between 80% and 90%. A report from Chalmers University in Sweden demonstrates that 2% fossil energy is required for current bioethanol production from pulp residues in Sweden, which means that a 98% net reduction of fossil carbon dioxide. In future large-scale ethanol production from cellulose or grain, Swedish researchers calculate a net reduction in fossil carbon dioxide of 90-95% and 50-70% respectively.

Q. Explosion risks with ethanol?

A. It is only vapours from a liquid fuel that's able to burn (if oxygen is present.) In the case of free fuel on the ground it is the vapour above the fuel surface that burns, this is true for both petrol and ethanol and both liquids are extremely flammable. But if spilt after a collision, petrol will be more dangerous than ethanol due to its higher vapour pressure in open air.

Q. Why does the 9-5 BioPower running on E85 produce more power and performance?

A. The octane rating of E85 is higher and that allows the car's advanced Trionic engine management system to operate the turbo engine at a higher combustion pressure, producing more power without risk of "knocking" (premature detonation of the fuel/air mixture.)

Q. Why can't all Saab cars use E85?

A. The car must be equipped with the correct electronics to detect and adjust for the different characteristics of E85/petrol mixture (E85 has a higher oxygen content.) Some engine components and the fuel system must also be compatible with ethanol.

Q. Why not use 100% ethanol?

A. E85 is the common blend for Europe and USA because of the requirements for good start up in cold conditions. In Brazil, for example, E100 fuel has been used for many years. Whether E85 or E100, the most important feature to remember is that, compared to a normal petrol engine, the 9-5 BioPower adds less 'new' CO2 to the atmosphere. Saab has research going on to solve the cold start requirements and the aim is to be able to run on E100 on any market, regardless of climatic conditions.

Q. Do Saab see BioPower as an alternative to Fuel Cell technology?

A. Not at all. Saab see BioPower as a good short to medium-term solution because it can use existing engine technology and the current infrastructure for fuel distribution. In the longer-term, Fuel Cell vehicles offer a completely new technology and Saab see BioPower as a solution before such vehicles become commercially available. In fact, it is quite conceivable that both solutions could for a number of years, run alongside each other. Alcohol is a good hydrogen carrier.

Q. Emissions, what can you expect from a BioPower engine?

A. The Saab BioPower fulfills the same emission regulations, Euro-4, in both E85 and petrol mode. For cold starts Saab recommend the use of the block heater, which is currently standard equipment on Saab BioPower cars.

Q. How about comsumption figures for BioPower, what can you expect?

A. Saab estimate the consumption to be approx. 30% less than for corresponding petrol engine when testing according to the EU cycle. Please note that a method and fuel specification for ethanol certification is not yet available by the authorities.

Q. What are the cold start characterisitics of the BioPower engine?

A. Cold starts OK down to 15 deg C on E85. Block heater must be used outside this criteria. It should be noted that using a block heater will improve cold start emissions in both petrol and E85 modes at higher temperatures.

Q. Can I convert a used Saab petrol car to ethanol?

A. Saab do not intend to supply any kind of converting products. It will simply be too complicated and expensive to the customer. No warranty is valid if any changes are made on the car.

Q. Why are Saab bothering with BioPower when ethanol fuel is available in so few markets around the world?

A. Saab has a tradition for environmental concern and offering innovative technical solutions. There is no doubt ethanol will become more widely available in the years ahead and there are already signs of developments in the rest of Europe. The EU is commited to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, including the encouragement of bio-fuels for road transport through preferential taxation in member states. The process is already advanced in Sweden. Saab is also participating in initiatives in 6 EU countries to introduce test fleets to the corporate sector through the BEST (Bio-Ethanol for Sustainable Transport) program.

Q. How can bioethanol fuel benefit the environment when it still gives of CO2 emissions?

A. We cannot change the laws of physics - combustion generates cardon dioxide. But we can benefit from a simple law of nature! The most important difference is that bioethanol does not add to global CO2 levels because it is actually 'recycling' CO2 that is already present in the atmosphere. This is because CO2 is removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis when crops for conversion are grown. It is then released - or returned - to the atmosphere during combustion when driving the car. Burning fossil fuels such, as oil and petrol, adds to the global CO2 because you are releasing new amounts of carbon that has lain fixed underground for millions of years. Bioethanol is, of course, renewable and oil isn't.