Saab has shown a concept car that may be pretty close to what becomes available for sale. At the Stockholm Motor Show in March and April 2006, Saab showed their BioPower Hybrid based on a 9-3 convertible.

Some details:

- The concept car can run on 100% ethanol fuel (the production model is likely to run on E85, since that's what's available in the US; it could use gasoline too, as a flex-fuel design).

- The concept is all wheel drive (The car is front wheel drive, with electric drive powering the rear wheels. This is an approach that is elegantly simple, and is a great way for a manufacturer to add all wheel drive to a vehicle.)

- The engine incorporates an integrated starter generator (ISG), built into the flywheel between the engine and transmission

- Electric energy storage is provided by a 42-cell, 300-volt lithium-ion battery bank. (If this is used in a production Saab, it would be an improvement over existing NiMH batteries used in hybrids now.)

- The car has a 'Zero Mode' operation. The driver can press a button on the dash; at speeds below 31 mph, 'Zero Mode' will shut off the engine and again switch the car over to electric power. In this mode, the battery bank provides a range of between 6-12 miles.

Saab has indicated that they may offer hybrids for sale when the 9-3 and 9-5 models are restyled, which is scheduled for the 2007-2008 timeframe.

July 2006