Saab’s Two-Mode Hybrid BioPower

The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept, recently unveiled at the British International Motor Show, is the newest member in Saab's increasingly long line of BioPower vehicles. This convertible prototype, which combines the two-mode hybrid system that Saab parent General Motors is co-developing with DaimlerChrysler and BMW with an ethanol-compatible engine, is the world's first hybrid capable of running on a pure renewable fuel. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine is an evolution of the unit that powers the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower currently on sale in Europe. In this application the engine is capable of running on E100 - pure ethanol fuel - or gasoline and ethanol in any combination.

In addition to the dual electric motors of the two-mode hybrid system and engine powering the front wheels in tandem, a rear drive unit (RDU) adds an electric motor at the rear wheels to provide all-wheel-drive. With 198 horsepower from the three electric motors and 260 horsepower from the engine - 24 percent more than its gasoline equivalent - the BioPower Hybrid Concept is projected to do the zero to 60 mph sprint in 6.8 seconds, a notable improvement over the 9.5 seconds of the 210 horsepower gasoline model. The lithium-ion battery pack stored underneath the trunk floor provides a six to 12 mile pure electric range, which the driver can engage by turning on a "Zero Mode" via a switch on the center console.