Saab 9-X BioHybrid at 2008 Sexy Green Car Show
Saab 9-X BioHybrid to debut at Sexy Green Car Show
Author: Robin Brown
Published: 23 May 2008
Saab will show its 9-X BioHybrid compact car concept at the 2008 Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project.
The Saab 9-X BioHybrid was first seen at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show in March, where it won ‘Best Concept’, and is making its UK debut at the Sexy Green Car Show.
Saab believes that biofuels can bridge the gap in alternative fuel technology until hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in electrics become more viable, but is facing rising doubts about the ecological and economical viability of biofuels as reports of deforestation grow and criticism of biofuel crops usurping agricultural crops grow.
David Pugh, General Manager, Sales & Marketing Strategy, Saab Great Britain Ltd, is adamant: "We cannot give up the challenge of making biofuels a viable alternative to fossil fuels just because there is a whole lot of confusion around about the alleged conflicts with food production.
"For example, one of the main contributors to the increased demand for grain is not biofuels but an increased trend towards a more protein-rich diet in Asia.’"
Saab believes that second-generation biofuels can be derived from waste by-products from agricultural production rather than the main crop. "Over 5 years, enough bioethanol could be produced from 50% of waste straw from UK cereal production to achieve 10% blending with all petrol supplied in the UK and sufficient to power an additional 10% of new car sales on E85 from domestic sources," says Pugh.
In the US, GM has formed a partnership with Coskata, a second generation biofuel provider. This partnership allows us to fully understand ethanol development and how to rapidly and efficiently expand production in a manner that maximises the environmental benefit.
The Coskata process uses waste to create bioethanol, so arguments about land use change, food vs fuel, sustainability, etc., are irrelevant. The Coskata process uses less water per gallon of ethanol than current processes.
According to Saab, for every unit of energy used, it creates up to 7.7 times that amount of energy and, on a well-to-wheel basis, compared to conventional petrol, the process reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 84%.
Ford Focus ECOnetic to make UK debut at Sexy Green Car Show as Ford challenges drivers to improve green driving skills.
Lotus will debut its Exige 270E Tri-Fuel sports car at this month's Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project.
The Sexy Green Car Show will be back in 2008 at the Eden Project in Cornwall, showcasing a raft of new eco-friendly motors from around the world.
The Saab 9-X Biohybrid foreshadows the 9-1 hatchback that Saab will look to introduce in the early teens. Featuring dual-fuel capability with hybrid systems, it's Saab's vision of a future small family car.
Saab to show BioPower flexi-fuel models at Eden Project´s Sexy Green Car Show.
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