Saab pushes "flex-fuel" ethanol bandwagon

SAAB Australia is urging the wider Australian community, government, media, oil companies and other car makers in particular, to get behind ethanol.

"Australia has a whole industry in Queensland waiting to produce ethanol," according to Saab Australia director Parveen Batish.

"So while we have something that is renewable, why aren't we using it?" To this end, the General Motors Holden-distributed Swedish firm will import four examples of its 9-5 BioPower to Australia to promote ethanol-powered vehicles.

Saab will demonstrate the cars in Queensland in December to raise awareness and test public reaction.

One BioPower car is already on display at this week's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, alongside the 100 per cent ethanol-powered Aero X Concept.

Known as a "flex-fuel" vehicle, the 9-5 BioPower usually runs on a mixture of 85 per cent ethanol (E85), but can also operate normally on petrol containing no ethanol, right up to 100 per cent pure and petrol-free ethanol.

As a result, Saab claims the BioPower could easily be introduced in Australia despite the current 10 per cent maximum ethanol content.