Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't bioethanol more widely available?

The availability of bioethanol in any given country often depends on government support and the prevalence of flex-fuel technology that can utilise bioethanol. As more governments worldwide become convinced that using bioethanol as a road fuel will help them meet increasingly strict environmental targets and reduce oil dependency, support for bioethanol production and distribution should rise. See our summaries of the bioethanol industry in Sweden and Brazil for examples of how government support influences bioethanol availability.

Does the UK have enough farmland to grow crops for fuel and for food?

The National Farmers Union (NFU) says that there is an adequate amount of land in the UK on which to grow crops for both fuel and food. The NFU estimates that there is around 1.2 million hectares (ha) of spare arable land which could be used to grow crops such as wheat for the production of bioethanol, in addition to large amounts of set-aside land, some of which the NFU believes could be used for this purpose.

Can Saab BioPower cars run on unleaded petrol as well as bioethanol E85?

Yes they can. Saab BioPower cars use a flexi-fuel engine. It can run on bioethanol E85, petrol or any mixture of the two. The engine automatically detects what's in the tank and adjusts accordingly.The engine management system monitors the fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on E85 and/or petrol in any combination. That means Saab BioPower drivers can also use petrol, should E85 not be available.

How much C02 is released per km when driving on E85 vs petrol?

Taking into account the increase in fuel consumption that occurs when driving on E85, the reduction of fossil CO2 emissions on a well to wheel basis is 50 - 70% less.

How is bioethanol produced?

Bioethanol is an alcohol distilled commercially 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 producing bioethanol from lignocellulose materials are currently underway. See our About Bioethanol section for further details.

Is it true that the rainforest is being sacrificed to grow sugar cane for bioethanol productions?

Not at all. In fact, heavy rainfall makes the rainforest soil unsuitable for growing sugar cane, Brazil's source of bioethanol.

Isn't fossil energy required to produce bioethanol, and won't this offset the environmental benefits?

According to current studies, the net savings of CO2 far outweigh the minor CO2 emissions released during bioethanol production. Brazil, one of the largest producers of bioethanol in the world, makes and consumes bioethanol with an 80%-90% net saving of fossil carbon dioxide. A report from Chalmers University in Sweden demonstrates that 2% fossil energy is required to produce bioethanol from pulp residues in Sweden, which means there is a 98% net reduction of fossil CO2. In future large-scale ethanol production from cellulose or grain, Swedish researchers predict a net reduction in fossil carbon dioxide of 90%-95% and 50%-70% respectively.

Does bioethanol present an explosion risk?

No more so than petrol does. Only the vapors from a liquid fuel are able to burn (if oxygen is present), and in the case of free fuel on the ground it is the vapor above the fuel surface that burns. This is true for both petrol and bioethanol, and both liquids are extremely flammable. If spilt after a collision, petrol will be more dangerous than bioethanol due to its higher vapor pressure in open air.

How does the Saab 9-5 BioPower increase power and performance when fuelled by E85?

The octane rating of E85 is higher than petrol, so when the BioPower car is fuelled by bioethanol E85, its advanced trionic engine management system operates the turbo engine at a higher combustion pressure, producing more power without risk of 'knocking' (premature detonation of the fuel/air mixture).

Why can't all Saab cars use E85?

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

Why can't Saab BioPower cars use 100% bioethanol (E100) instead of E85?

E85 is the common blend for Europe and USA because of the requirements for good start- up in cold conditions. In Brazil, where a cold engine start is not an issue, E100 fuel has been used for many years. No matter what mix of bioethanol the 9-5 BioPower cars uses , it will add less 'new' CO2 to the atmosphere compared to a normal petrol engine. Saab is researching solutions to the cold start requirements with the goal of enabling BioPower cars to run on E100 on any market, regardless of climate conditions.

Does Saab consider BioPower an alternative to fuel cell technology?

No, but Saab does see BioPower as a good short- to medium-term solution because it can use existing engine technology and the current infrastructure for fuel distribution.

Do all emissions from a Saab BioPower engine meet environmental regulations?

In both E85 and petrol mode, Saab BioPower fulfills the Euro-4 emission regulations.

What level of fuel consumption can I expect from a Saab BioPower car?

Saab estimates the consumption to be approximately 30% higher than for a corresponding petrol engine when tested according to the EU cycle. Please note that a method and fuel specification for bioethanol certification is not yet available from the authorities.

Can you convert used Saab petrol cars to bioethanol cars?

Saab does not intend to supply any kind of conversion products simply because the conversion process would be too complicated and prohibitively expensive for the customer. NB: No warranty is valid if such changes are made to a Saab car.

Will Saab launch BioPower in markets outside of Sweden and the UK?

Saab will introduce the BioPower version of the 9-5 in Germany this winter. We expect to launch BioPower in more European countries during first half year of 2007. We're also receiving a lot of interest in BioPower from markets in the US and in Asia.

Why has Saab developed BioPower technology if bioethanol fuel is available in so few markets around the world?

Saab has a tradition of addressing environmental concerns with innovative technical solutions. There is no doubt bioethanol will become more widely available in the years ahead and there are already signs of further development in the rest of Europe. The EU is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and supports using biofuels for road transport through preferential taxation in member states. The process is already advanced in Sweden, and Saab is participating in initiatives in six EU countries to introduce BioPower test fleets to the corporate sector through the BEST (Bio-Ethanol for Sustainable Transport) program.

How can bioethanol fuel truly benefit the environment if it still releases CO2?

We cannot change the laws of physics - all combustion generates carbon dioxide. But BioPower benefits from another law of nature: when bioethanol is used as fuel, it does not add to global CO2 levels because it only 'recycles' CO2 already present in the atmosphere. More specifically, CO2 is removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis when crops intended for conversion to bioethanol are grown. CO2 is then released (returned) to the atmosphere during combustion. In contrast, burning a fossil fuel such as petrol adds to global CO2 because it releases new amounts of CO2 that were previously trapped underground for millions of years. Finally, unlike oil, bioethanol is a renewable fuel, which inherently helps the environment by allowing us to conserve other energy resources.