Saab is the first car company to produce an ethanol vehicle for the Australian market. The Saab BioPower vehicles can run on E85, a fuel blend of 85 per cent of ethanol 15 per cent petrol, or petrol, in any mix from the one fuel tank.

The BioPower models now available in Australia, including 9-3 Convertible, Sport Sedan and SportCombi, and 9-5 Sedan and SportEstate, are helping stimulate the demand needed to bring E85 to market.

Following the Australian launch of Saab BioPower, General Manager United Petroleum, David Szymczak, says United Petroleum is currently installing Australia’s first retail E85 pumps.

“We plan to install one of the country’s first E85 pumps at our United service station at 1780 Sandgate Road Virginia in Brisbane’s northern suburbs.

“We hope to have Brisbane’s first commercial E85 pump available to BioPower drivers around April. United is working on the local permits required for the site and the tanks and equipment are ready to be installed,” Mr Szymczak said.

“United is a leader in marketing ethanol fuels in Australia and Queensland is a strong supporter of ethanol so it makes sense for us to lead with E85 in this state.|

“Our Virginia site will give BioPower drivers in and around Brisbane easy access to E85 fuel and make it more attractive to people considering an alternative fuel vehicle to purchase a Saab BioPower.”

When the United E85 pumps come on-line in the coming months, Australian Saab BioPower drivers in most major capital cities will be able to drive on fuel that is 85 per cent renewable and enjoy the full benefits of their flex-fuel capable vehicle for the first time.

Compared to running on petrol, driving a BioPower vehicle on E85 substantially reduces CO2 “source to wheel” emissions and significantly improves engine power and performance thanks to Saab’s turbocharging and engine management system.

The 2.0-litre Saab 9-3 BioPower engine delivers peak power of 147 kW and 300 Nm of maximum torque running on E85.

On E85 9-3 BioPower produces at least an additional 18 kW (147 kW vs 129 kW) and an extra 35 Nm of torque (300 Nm vs 265 Nm) over the equivalent petrol model.

Saab estimates driving Saab BioPower on E85 can reduce CO2 emissions on a ‘source to wheel basis’ by up to 70 per cent compared to driving on petrol.

The term ‘source to wheels’ encompasses all CO2 emitted through the growing the crops, fuel production, transport to market and powering the vehicle.