GM Begins Saab E85 Trial in Australia
17 January 2007
GM has brought UK-sourced Saab 9-5 BioPower flex-fuel vehicles to Australia to gauge interest in ethanol-powered vehicles in Australia in a trial that began this week.
Saab Australia is placing the vehicles with the fleets of the Queensland Government and ethanol producers such as the Manildra Group, as well as with the media. E85 is not available widely in Australia, but the Manildra Group is providing the 85% ethanol blend fuel for the trial.
(The Manildra Group is also testing internally a bi-fuel converter for E85 applications.)
Anecdotally we have had extremely positive feedback to our plans to sell BioPower in Australia. Visitors to our stand at the Australian International Motor Show expressed a willingness to invest in BioPower despite E85 not being available yet and we have been contacted by a number of ethanol producers who can’t wait to get their hands on the vehicles.
—Parveen Batish, Director Saab Australia and New Zealand
A best-seller in Sweden, BioPower has also been launched across Europe, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, France and Norway, and will be introduced to Spain this year. (Earlier post.)
Saab currently offers BioPower versions of its turbocharged four-cylinder 2.3 and 2.0 liter engines. (Earlier post.) The vehicles being used for the Australian trial are BioPower 2.0t vehicles.
Saab has also just introduced its diesels to Australia with the addition of the 9-3 1.9-liter TiD vehicles. The common rail 1.9-liter turbo diesel engine will initially appear in the 9-3 Sport Sedan and SportCombi, but Saab says it is also considering the introduction of a diesel version of its 9-3 Convertible. (Earlier post.)
GM--How about some US trials.
Better yet, put this drivetrain in the next Malibu.
Posted by: Chris | 17 January 2007 at 05:13 AM
Chris -
they're not testing E85 technology but rather the Australian consumer reaction to it. GM already has plenty of other vehicles to guage that in the US.
What would be a head turner is if GM allowed Saab to sell its 9-3 bio-hybrid in the US. Chances are the beancounters have already decided it would not be profitable (enough).
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | 17 January 2007 at 06:01 AM
Yes GM...by all means get your Saab E85 and biodiesel models certified for the largest car market in the world, you dumofos. I think these motors fit in other GM vehicles also.
Posted by: fred@dzlsabe | 17 January 2007 at 07:26 AM
The Saab 9-3 is built on the same platform as the Malibu--just different sheet metal and plastic.
How about a Malibu SS--the Saab 9-3 BioPower should be close to a bolt in application.
Is GM serious about E85 or is it just a marketing ploy?
Posted by: Chris | 18 January 2007 at 05:09 AM
Remember emissions laws are much tighter in the US than in Europe or elsewhere, moreover Biodiesel. A 2007 GM diesel in Australia and Europe most likely will not meet US EPA specs...
Wait till 2009, then GM is launching its US light duty diesel that will meet specs.
Posted by: wooglin | 18 January 2007 at 09:42 AM