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Saab is developing GM’s diesel with hybrid technology. SvD(?) have been granted access to the secret rooms of Saab.

First up is a white Saab 9-3 Sport Combi that is fully stuffed with hybrid technology, where electric engines are driving the car in lower speeds and normal combustion engine takes care of higher speeds. It’s like a Prius, just a little more complicated (and better looking, and safer, and more comfortable, and…. – SW).

We are in Saabs development centre in Trollhättan. Here the technology is fitted to the cars. Everything is hush hush but on the driver’s seat is a key with the text “9-3 diesel”.

Is it a diesel hybrid? The face of the man in charge, Magnus Wall, goes pale.

- We are developing hybrid technology for different kinds of engines.

Before the talk about hybrid and diesel was believed to be too expensive and the concept is not for SAAB and GM. But later on Peugeot, among others, has shown that it is possible.

But is this a diesel hybrid? He is getting even more pale and takes look at the press director.

Well yes

Isn’t it hard to get the diesel to work, which is hard to start, with the electric engine?

The colour is back in his face.

No that is possible.

So it is very secret all the time but at the same time the engineer is so proud he can’t wait to tell more.

We will get everything to work together. With the next generation of hybrid we can lower the fuel consumption up to 40 percent. This is possible with the use of more electricity.

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And there’s more…..on the 9-5 perhaps?

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The biggest secret is located far back in the room, covered in a grey blanket.

It is probably the new Saab 9-5 due to be presented in two years time. A beautiful sculptured sedan fully loaded with hybrid technology under the bonnet. I’m taking a glance and all I can see is that the car is white. I’m just a quick grab and a picture away from revealing Saab’s big secret.

Keep in mind that the new 9-5 and the upcoming 9-1 may be radically different cars and have very different engine requirements.

We all, of course, have our favorites. Mine happens to be the B202 2.0 Liter 16-valve 4-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled engine in the later classic 900 line up. The exhaust note is truly unique, and the engine seems to come alive at speed. And, it does this without the very un-PC stigma that the larger displacement engines have.

But I’m aiming for comments that would pave the way for future Saab engine technology.

I’ve gone on record here as an ethanol skeptic. I really think that E85 has two fatal flaws for adoption here in the US: infrastructure to distribute the fuel does not exist and would have to be built at great economic and environmental cost, and that it is still basically the same basic internal combustion technology and doesn’t gain efficiency as a result. So, of course, I don’t think that Biopower will be a long-term solution.

On the other hand, the plug-in hybrid, despite it’s scandalous history, works for me. In spades. I happen to live in an area of the world with amazingly low electricity rates — only one or two regions of the United States have lower electricity costs. Additionally, electricity that is generated in my local area has very low air emissions on average — hydroelectric and nuclear power make up the majority, and the largest coal-fired plants all have state-of-the-art emissions controls in place. Finally, a 30- or 40-mile (50- or 65-kilometer) range for electric-only operation would be perfect for most of my local driving. I may need to add fuel only once every couple of months if I had a good plug-in hybrid.

With as little fuel as I would need with a plug-in hybrid, it seems a little silly to even attempt to optimize the combustion process, but if I had my way, the power generating engine in my plug-in hybrid would ideally be a turbocharged biodiesel engine. Again, I could take full advantage of what is available to me locally; soybean and corn oils are abundant here. No need for a belching refinery to create the fuel or distill it into alcohol, no need to expend energy transporting the product halfway across the world and, most importantly, no need to develop a great distribution network for the fuel. It already exists. As an added benefit, it’s non-toxic and completely safe to handle. Emissions would still need to be controlled, but the great news is that the particulate emissions from biodiesel are not volatile petrochemical byproducts nor are they toxic.

So, for me, the ideal Saab power plant would be a turbocharged biodiesel plug-in hybrid. If I could get about 30 miles on the electric charge before the diesel started up, my mileage would be in the neighborhood of 150 miles per gallon of soybean oil plus about US$90-US$140 per month in electricity (a VERY rough estimate on my part). That’s a winner for me. It’s a HUGE cost savings and is VERY environmentally friendly.

So, what’s your take? Comments await! Extra credit for answers that are concise.

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In my editorial on The Truth About Cars a few days ago I mentioned that if you wanted to describe Saab’s recent history in one word, that word would be underinvestment. That sounds a little unfair on the surface as Saab did some absolutely brilliant work over the years on a pretty small budget. But the fact is that Saab haven’t always had the financial muscle to bring all their ideas to market.

This post will cite only two examples, but I’m sure there’s a few more.

The Solar Cell

Remember the Saab EV-1 concept car? Designed by Bjorn Envall, the removable roof had solar cells embedded in it that drove a vent fan to keep the interior temperature as close to ambient temperature as possible.

Solar cells don’t come cheap nowadays and I can’t imagine what an option like this would have cost back in 1985.

In 2007 it will cost you US$790 as an option on either the Audi A8 or the A6.

Like the EV-1′s solar cell, the Audi solar sunroof drives the fresh air vent in the cabin when required. It works in exactly the same way as Bjorn Envall’s idea 22 years ago.

The electric assist engine

OK, to be fair, this hasn’t been released yet and is theoretically still in ‘concept’ form, but once again Audi are planning for the market introduction of an idea that I first saw on a Saab (it may well have been on another vehicle prior, but I don’t know).

This week, Audi took the wraps of their new Mini-fighter, the A1.

In addition to a bunch of other features, the A1 features an electric motor driving the rear wheels providing 30kW of power and 200 Nm of torque. Normally a FWD vehicle, the pocket rocket will have what Audi call ‘tractive power’ of around 440 Nm.

It never received as much attention, but Saab’s BioPower Plugin Hybrid Concept had two electric motors, one of which was a 38kW motor between the rear wheels.

As mentioned, I have to be fair about this one, and it may be that Saab’s investment in this technology will pay off in the future with the adaptation of this drive system into a future 9-5 or 9-3.

The Audi A1 is due in 2009.

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That’s two examples of technologies I’ve first seen in Saabs that are being used in other makes rather than in Saabs. I’m sure there’s more, though, so if you know of any then please leave the story in comments.

Saab have done a heck of a lot of innovation for such a small company over the years. It’s a pity that they haven’t always been in a position to capitalise on their own work.

Another Swedish publication, Nyteknik, has also covered the article, and once again CTM has been kind enought o provide us with a translation:

According to information from GM, the new Saab 9-1 will be available as a hybrid from day one. The new smaller Saab goes into production after 2010. Saab in Trollhättan now wants all GM hybrid cars in Europe.

According to auto industry paper Automobilwoche, GM’s new Delta platform is being developed to accept a hybrid powertrain. The paper cites sources inside GM who state that both Opel Astra and Saab 9-1 from day one will be available as hybrids. This is especially important for the US market, where Saab is marketed under it’s own brand name while Opel Astra is marketed within the Saturn brand.

The Trollhättan plant is one of four plants in Europe to produce the smaller GM cars developed on the Delta platform. The others are located in the UK, Germany and Poland. GM has decided to invest about 4 billion USD to adapt the plants for the new platform.

There is no information yet about the breakdown of the investment between the factories, but either way most of it will be used to make production of hybrids possible. There is a big difference between a hybrid powertrain and powertrain with a more common engine. The batteries are one such thing.

The Trollhättan plant will not only build the Saab 9-1 on the Delta platform, and the people at Saab have their sights set on the hybrids.

- “We would love to take on the whole production of GM’s new hybrids in Europe,” said Stig Nordin, then Executive Director Technical Development, Saab Automobile, in an interview with Ny Teknik earlier this year.
- “Our strength is the flexibility. The engineers in Trollhättan have contributed with several key technologies in the development of the Delta platform’s hybrid capabilities.”

For some time now, there has been a mock-up of a lightly disguised Opel Astra hybrid at Saab’s hybrid center in Trollhättan. There, engineers have tried to fit the technology in the car. Thought has also gone into how the car will be produced.

- “Our production line can easily adjust to hybrid cars,” says Stig Nordin.
- “We have the knowledge and the capacity to do it. In a long-term perspective, I can see Trollhättan as a pure hybrid plant.”

The Delta platform is the first one that from the start has been developed for a hybrid powertrain with a compact combustion engine and a powerful electric engine. The developers target a modular construction, where the the combustion engine can be a diesel, petrol or ethanol engine depending on the market.

The electric motor is used when starting the car and in acceleration. Saab has also developed an extra motor for the rear axle as an option for those who want some more power. To store the energy, lithium-ion batteries using nano phosphors technology are used. They are more durable and fireproof than “ordinary” lithium-ion batteries.

A few days ago, Stig Nordin left Saab for a top position at the Italian auto maker Iveco. His successor is yet to be announced. But according to Christer Nilsson, Press Relations Manager at Saab Automobile, the work with hybrid technology continues in Trollhättan.

- “Absolutely. Saab and turbo and hybrids belongs together, and that is something you will see a lot of in the future.”

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In his latest posting the GM Fastlane blog, Bob Lutz talks about the development of the new Hydrogen fleet that GM’s looking to establish with a view ahead to a time when the hydrogen infrastructure is more established and able to support the profitable large scale manufacture of hydrogen vehicles.

He also briefly mentions that hydrogen isn’t the only arrow in GM’s fuel-strategy quiver. There’s also E85 and the upcoming two-mode hybrid system (which, incidentally, has been added to the aforementioned Saab 9-3 Hybrid Biopower Convertible to be shown at the Paris Motor Show later this month). Then he drops this little nugget:

We are also studying plug-in hybrids, and will have more to say about those soon. The whole key there is the development of significantly improved battery technology. But rest assured I truly believe that electric-drive vehicles have a real future in this country and around the world

More to say about [plug-in hybrids] soon??? Is there a remote possibility that Saab will be allowed to unveil the plug-in capability of the 9-3 Convertible Hybrid in Paris later this month?

A little bit of backstory for those who aren’t familiar:

Back in March 2006, Saab unveiled a hybrid 9-3 Convertible at the Stockholm Motor Show. The car has batteries in the back, electric motors to the front and rear wheels, is capable of running on E100 or gasoline, or any mix of the two. That’s what the official press releases told us.

What a lot of people don’t know is that the official press release was a re-draft of an earlier release that included the plug-in capability of the car as well. Any references to the plug-in functionality were removed in the official release.

How do we know this?

Well, someone in Sweden made an error and circulated the first draft of the press release, the one that mentioned the plug-in capability of the car. This was first uncovered by Robert Collin of Sweden’s Aftonbladet newspaper and I reproduced the story for the english-speaking world. Click here to read the original Trollhattan Saab story.

Shortly after that, a few enterprising Googlers found links to motoring publications that ran the original press release rather than replacing it with the edited version. I have a screendump of one of these services with the original release – click here to take a look or click here to go to my original story on this original, unedited press release.

Regular visitors to this site may remember when this story first broke and ask: Why is he persisting with this?

Well, Saab deserves the kudos.

Saab’s always been an environmentally conscious automotive entity and the addition of plug-in capability would be a perfect fit for the brand image, especially in Europe where they’re already a leader in the manufacture of vehicles running on environmentally responsible fuels. Sweden is the leading market in Europe for E85 availability and the Saab 9-5 Biopower is the biggest ‘green fuel’ seller in this market.

It went unnoticed in many circles in the last weeks that Australian political pioneer, Don Chipp, passed away recently. In the 1970′s, Don Chipp established the third major political party here in Australia, The Democrats. The mission of that party was provide a third voice in Australian politics that would keep watch over the policies and legistlation introduced by whichever party was in power. By doing so, they would “keep the bastards honest” (his words, not mine).

Perhaps it’s a pipe dream that Saab will be allowed to unveil this technology first, but one can dream – and keep a record like this just to “keep the bastards honest.”

I’ll await the Paris show with interest.

Now they’ve added the GM Two-Mode Hybrid transmission that’s been developed in conjunction with BMW and Daimler Chrysler. With the additional two electric motors in the 2Mhybrid transmission housing, I think that brings the total number of motors in the Biopower Hybrid to 3,675,921. Give or take a few.

The relevant exciting bits in the press release are as follows:

This unique concept, showcased in a Saab 9-3 Convertible, is the first vehicle to combine a fossil-free bioethanol fuel (E100) capability with electric-only propulsion by utilizing the advanced two-mode hybrid system which General Motors Corp. is co-developing with DaimlerChrysler and BMW Group….

….”This concept allows us to evaluate and explore the potential of hybrid technology in combination with BioPower,” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “As part of this process, we are now developing our expertise further by introducing the two-mode hybrid technology. It shows how we can continue to express the sporty performance associated with Saab while using renewable resources and saving energy overall.”….

And for those that don’t know much about the Two Mode system (count me in) –

Two-Mode hybrid technology

The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept showcases the state-of-the-art two-mode hybrid transmission. This sophisticated technology represents a major industry milestone, achieving an unprecedented level of integration by combining two electric motors and four fixed gears within a single transmission housing.

Commonly described as a two-mode hybrid due to the low- and high-speed electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) modes, the fuel-saving technology also incorporates four fixed gear ratios for a total of six operating functions. The result is trend-setting hybrid technology that provides superior fuel economy, performance and load carrying potential.

The two-mode hybrid’s electric motors can be used for electric-only propulsion, boosting the internal combustion engine and providing regenerative braking.

Additional fuel-saving efforts include removing auxiliary functions, such as the water pump, air conditioning and power steering systems, from the engine’s belt drive and transferring them to electric power through the hybrid system.

The two-mode hybrid transmission is similar in size to a conventional automatic transmission. Its adaptable design allows it to be scaled to the size, mass and performance needs of various engines and vehicles.

Hopefully these continued developments might mean that something like this is actually in the pipeline for production rather than just the concept merry-go-round (as fun as that is). This paragraph from Channel 4 would seem to pour some cold water on that idea, however:

Sadly, the Biopower hybrid powertrain is a long way off production. Nash says that there are still many issues to solve, not least the sheer cost of manufacturing it, and problems of safely recycling its materials at the end of its useful life. “We’ll have to pass the cost onto consumers”, he said. “The hybrid is a tomorrow product and solution. The Biopower models are a today solution. “

And no, GM are still not mentioning the plug-in capability of the original concept. Interestingly though, Channel 4 did contain this subtle rebuttal for the plug-in conspirators:

The batteries, charged under regenerative braking and thus requiring no auxiliary plug-in charging,

Don’t believe it.

It seems Autoweb in Australia received the old press material and ran with it:

To optimise the availability of ‘Zero Mode’, a plug-in-feature is available which allows the battery bank to be connected to a mains electricity supply for additional charging in the garage. This would, for example, allow a driver commuting in heavy traffic to immediately resume in ‘Zero Mode’ the next morning after arriving home the previous evening having used up all its range. A neat socket is located behind the Saab badge on the 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Concept’s trunk lid.

That paragraph is missing from the press release that I received and reproduced here.

So it seems that Saab, after taking a lead role in the development of this technology, was pushed into hushing this up. The question now is what car will the plug-in feature on? And what is GM’s real attitude towards Saab being seen as an innovative, environmentally responsible and yet sporting brand within the GM portfolio?

The full, original story about this issue is here.

My thanks to Kayfer for finding this link and essentially proving the original Aftonbladet claims.

For the record, here’s a screendump of the original story on Autoweb. The offending paragraph is circled. Click to enlarge.

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Some things are more important than a house-moving hiatus…..

Could this badge be hiding a multitude of sins?

Word from Robert Collin at Aftonbladet this morning that GM may have thwarted Saab’s Hybrid being announced as an even bigger breakthrough than it seemed to be. As it is, the Saab 9-3 Hybrid won rave reviews for being the first hybrid vehicle to potentially return zero fossil fuel emissions.

Aftonbladet are reporting today that what Saab didn’t say about the Hybrid was that it is a plug-in hybrid.

And why didn’t they say it?

Well, if Robert Collin is correct, they were gagged. A translation of the Aftonbladet article, from Tom at iSaab, a Swedish Saab forum:

A couple of days previous to the premiere at the Stockholm Autoshow the orders came from Detroit: Not a word that the car can be charged from the socket! The Saab emblem on the boot, that hides the 220-volt intake, was glued shut. The pressmaterial was withdrawn and had to be rewritten. In Trollhattan they don´t know why, but it might be that GM will show a similar solution on one of its American brands that will be shown at the autoshow in New York later this April.

So why the fuss? Go to Calcars and check out why they’re touting Plug-ins. In short, there’s the mileage benefits, cleaner energy source benefits, lifetime service cost benefits and power storage benefits.

Plug-ins are the current darling of the environmental set and if you’re that way inclined, then being the first car company to produce a good, practical and realistic working prototype would be a major coup. The significance of the Saab Hybrid concept lay in the fact that they did it with an existing model, and to prove that it wasn’t going to be a huge bulky proposition, they did with a convertible!

This sort of clever design and development is a perfect fit for the environmentally responsible Saab brand.

Apparently GM killed it in Stockholm because they want to debut it, possibly on one of their home brands, at the New York Auto Show. If so, then GM’s true commitment to Saab and the realisation of its true growth potential must be questioned, in my opinion.

Saab is the one brand amongst GM’s portfolio with huge growth potential, and a vehicle like this, especially in a truly revolutionary configuration like the plug-in Hybrid, would have been a huge boost to Saab’s profile and in perfect keeping with its previous history of drivetrain leadership. Anyone but me notice how a lot of recent articles on future powertains are mentioning turbocharging?

If this story is accurate, then GM should come out and give credit where credit’s due. If they debut a plug-in hybrid on anything other than a Saab later this week in New York, then it’s shame, GM, Shame.

My thanks to Tom from iSaab.net for the tip-off, links and translation.

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UPDATE: There’s a follow-up piece to this story and the title says it all: The Smoking Gun. The original press release was found, with the reference to the plug-in capability.

The Saab 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Concept is just as easy to drive as its petrol or diesel powered siblings. Energy use and power distribution is fully automatic. The only visible differences from a conventional car are a few instruments and the Zero Mode switch. Despite its compact design, the Saab Biopower Hybrid is a full hybrid vehicle, which means it has the capacity to be driven entirely on the stored electricity.

1. Saab BioPower 2.0 Turbo – combustion engine optimised to run on pure bioethanol (E100), resulting in zero fossil fuel emission.

2. Integrated starter/generator (ISG) – built into the flywheel, between the engine and transmission. Contributes with an additional 15 kW (20 bhp) and up to 120 Nm of torque

3. Rear Drive Unit (RDU) – transmission differential with an integrated 38 kW (52 bhp) electric motor/alternator. Deliver up to 665 Nm of torque briefly at lower speeds to boost take-off performance.

4. Battery Management System (BMS) – Electronic Control Unit with software for battery supervision.

5. 42 V battery – powers the front electric motor (ISG).

6. 300 V battery – powers the Rear Drive Unit. Compact, high-capacity lithium-ion battery.

7. Electronic Control Unit – for the Rear Drive Unit (RDU).

8. Zero Mode button – switch between Hybrid and Zero Mode. Driving range in fully electric Zero Mode is 10–20 km depending on driving conditions.

9. Electronic Control Unit – for the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG).

· Innovative hybrid concept based on pure bioethanol

· Zero fossil CO2 emissions in all modes

· 260 bhp Saab BioPower engine running on E100 fuel

· Increased performance with threefold torque boost from electric motors

· Fuel saving ‘Zero Mode’ for city driving on electric power only

· Energy saving features including regenerative braking

· Space efficient modular design uses existing vehicle architecture

· All-wheel-drive for improved traction

The innovative Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept, making its world premiere at the Stockholm Motor Show (March 30 – April 9, 2006), delivers zero fossil CO2 emissions, enhanced performance and a range of energy-saving features by combining the use of pure bioethanol fuel and electric power generation for the first time. As the world’s first fossil-free hybrid vehicle, the Saab 9-3 Convertible show car also becomes the world’s first hybrid soft-top.

Packing formidable pulling power from its 260 bhp (191 kW) 2.0-liter turbo BioPower engine and 53 kW electric motors, the BioPower Hybrid Concept in the Saab 9-3 can briefly generate torque values three times greater than its gasoline-only equivalent. It is a sporty combination that makes for improved performance, as you would expect from Saab, as well as greater fuel economy and an extended driving range.

4 cyl 2.0L Biopower engine. Dual Exhaust?

Saab’s modular hybrid system features a maintenance-free, 300-volt battery bank, a 38 kW rear-mounted electric motor, a 15 kW integrated starter generator and all-wheel-drive with electric power transmission to the rear wheels. The entire system has been packaged without sacrificing cabin accommodation or trunk space, as demonstrated by its unveiling in the Saab 9-3 Convertible.

The all-aluminum 2.0-liter BioPower engine is modified to run on pure E100 bioethanol fuel, giving zero fossil CO2 exhaust emissions, and operates in tandem with the electrical power system. This offers fuel-saving stop/start functionality, torque boosting electric power assistance on demand, an electric-only ‘Zero Mode’ for city driving and regenerative braking.

The X-Ray to show you how it’s done. Click to enlarge

The BioPower Hybrid Concept prototype car, a 9-3 sport sedan with automatic transmission, is expected to achieve zero to 100 kph acceleration in just 6.9 seconds, a substantial improvement against 8.8 seconds for the equivalent gasoline model. Even more impressive is 80 to 120 kph acceleration on ‘kick-down’ in only 5.5 seconds.

“Hybrids are certainly interesting for Saab in the future and this project allows us to evaluate and explore the potential of hybrid technology in combination with BioPower,” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “Although the exact hybrid application shown in this concept does not currently figure in our production plans, the project has been extremely valuable in helping us further our expertise. It shows how we could develop the sporty performance associated with Saab while using only renewable resources and saving energy overall.”

The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept is the first project to be announced under a joint investment program between General Motors R&D (Research and Development) and the Swedish government. This has established a research and development office in Trollhättan, Sweden, focusing on vehicle safety, engine emissions and advanced manufacturing in collaboration with Swedish universities, research laboratories and suppliers.

Saab is a 100 percent subsidiary of General Motors, which is committed to reducing vehicle emissions and improving fuel economy through the implementation of a three-tiered, advanced propulsion technology strategy. The ultimate goal is the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles that emit only water and remove the vehicle from the environmental debate.

In the near to mid-term, hybrid propulsion will bridge the gap between today’s technology and tomorrow’s hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles. GM is also focused on introducing alternative fuels and new technologies to improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines and transmissions, further reducing vehicle emissions and increasing fuel economy.

BioPower propulsion

The Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower is already an outstanding sales success in Sweden, where it is currently the best selling flex-fuel vehicle on the market and able to exploit a fast-developing network of filling station selling E85 (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline) fuel.

The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept now goes a step further by using an engine fuelled by pure E100 bioethanol. This is a BioPower evolution of the current all-aluminum, 16-valve 2.0-liter turbo engine in the Saab 9-3 range. It now develops 260 bhp and an impressive 375 Nm maximum torque, 24 per cent and 25 per cent more respectively than on gasoline. The engine incorporates an integrated starter generator (ISG) and also charges a 300-volt battery bank, mounted under the floor of the trunk.

It retains a flex-fuel capability and features a Spark Ignited Direct Injection (SIDI) system for optimum combustion with E100; ensuring the same cold starting performance as a normal gasoline engine. Variable inlet and exhaust cam phasing is used for optimum breathing and more durable valves and valve seats are fitted, together with bioethanol-compatible materials for the fuel system.

The compact 42-Volt ISG, built into the flywheel between the engine and transmission, is the power behind the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept’s fuel-saving, stop/start functionality. It serves a multi-functional role as a starter motor, alternator and 15 kW engine power booster, while also helping to iron out residual crankshaft vibrations.

For the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept application, a series of further steps are taken to optimize the engine’s fuel saving capacity. Auxiliary functions, such as the water pump, air conditioning and power steering systems, are now removed from the engine’s belt drive and electrically powered instead, through the hybrid system.

The five-speed automatic transmission, with Saab Sentronic sequential selection, includes an all-wheel-drive capability by the simultaneous addition of electrically powered drive to the rear wheels.

Hybrid booster

A parallel hybrid system has been adopted, where the control strategy is based on efficient ‘energy management’ – recovering, storing and feeding back energy that is otherwise lost in a vehicle powered only by an internal combustion engine. The engineering team have utilised General Motors’ hybrid experience in the development of stop/start engine functionality, electric rear-wheel drive systems and regenerative braking. Apart from converters to manage AC/DC and 12,42 and 300-volt interfaces, the system consists of just three core components: two electric motors and a battery bank.

Electric energy storage is provided by a 42-cell, 300-volt lithium-ion battery bank. Its performance is carefully monitored and governed by an electronic control unit, through which electric current from the engine is fed.

This power pack is accommodated under the floor of the trunk, without taking up any stowage space, as demonstrated in the Stockholm show car.

The battery supplies a compact 38 kW electric motor located between the rear wheels which powers a transmission differential and drive shafts. At low speeds, this Rear Drive Unit (RDU) is able to briefly generate 666 Nm of additional torque.

That all-important rear electric motor. A hellishly strong 666Nm.

In reverse operation, the motor acts as a generator to provide ‘regenerative braking’. It automatically recovers kinetic energy otherwise lost during braking and converts this into additional battery charging. It also performs the same function whenever the driver lifts off the throttle, harnessing the energy in the rotating drive shafts. This is achieved without any perceptible change in the rate of deceleration.

The second electric motor is the integrated starter generator (ISG) located within the flywheel between the engine and main transmission. On demand, it contributes 15 kW of additional power and 120 Nm of extra torque to the output of the engine through the front wheels.

Driving Benefits

The sophisticated electronic control of the hybrid componentry is matched to the operating parameters of the BioPower engine to provide seamless power assistance and power saving functionality.

Under transient driving conditions, both electric motors are activated to augment the power of the engine, increasing standing start acceleration and in-gear performance for safe overtaking. This briefly raises total power by as much as 28 per cent – without raising fuel consumption.

At take off, the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept also exploits the instant torque generation of its electric motors, smoothly adding strong, accelerative power during the engine’s pick-up, from tick-over to about 1,500 rpm. It is during this phase that the available pulling power, or torque, is more than tripled.

An estimated fuel of saving of 5-7% is provided by the automatic engine stop/start function. Whenever the vehicle is stationary, the engine is immediately shut-off to save fuel. As soon as the brake is released, it is automatically started again by the powerful ISG. The operation is carried out seamlessly and requires no input from the driver.

In congested driving conditions, fuel saving is taken a step further by the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept’s ‘Zero Mode’ operation – giving zero fuel consumption, and, of course, zero emissions – which can be selected by the driver via a button in the central console. At speeds below 50 kph, ‘Zero Mode’ will shut off the engine and again switch the car over to electric power only through the RDU. In this mode, the battery bank provides a range of between 10 and 20 kilometers. The engine is smoothly re-engaged whenever the battery status approaches a low charge level or the electronic throttle opening requires acceleration beyond the 50 kph operating limit.

Whenever the engine is shut down, all auxiliary functions, such as the power steering, air conditioning and lighting, remain unaffected because they are now permanently electrically-powered through the battery. The removal of unnecessary loadings on the engine further contributes to fuel economy and in mixed driving the estimated range of Saab 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Concept test vehicles, with a standard 62 liter tank, is a competitive 800 kms.

Finally, in low grip road conditions, traction can be optimized by the addition of rear-wheel-drive for improved handling and safety. For example, when the electronic traction control system (TCS) is activated at the front wheels, the car can be balanced by the application of rear drive.

Driver instrumentation for the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept is as discreet as the installation of its hybrid engineering. In the main instrument cluster, icons are illuminated to indicate when the car is running on engine and/or electric power. An additional gauge is also fitted to show the power status of the battery bank. Under electric power, the needle will steadily fall and then rise again when the engine provides charging. The turbo boost gauge is calibrated by tree icons, a playful reminder of the car’s renewable energy source.

In overall operation, the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept is designed to deliver enhanced performance and valuable energy savings. The concept can enrich driving appeal while also moving further towards the goal of sustainable mobility.