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Alternative Fuels: Why Saving Money Can Be Pro-Environmental


September 2005
 Filed under: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Car News | GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Headlines

Opel/Vauxhall, Chevrolet and Saab models operating on natural gas, LPG and ethanol

Frankfurt. If you are looking for an economical automobile with low running costs, diesel is no longer the automatic choice. Modern four-stroke engines such as the Opel/Vauxhall TWINPORT units have made great strides in fuel efficiency, despite now offering better performance and lower pollutant emission levels than ever before. Alternative fuels contribute to the conservation of global resources and ease the strain on the car owner's wallet. This is why the various GM brands offer country-specific models designed to run on the alternative fuels available in each particular country. These include the brand new Opel/Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 CNG (natural gas), numerous Chevrolet models (LPG) and the Saab 9-5 BioPower (ethanol).
Filling up for half price: the Opel Zafira CNG and Combo CNG natural gas-fueled models

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, natural gas market leader Opel will host the global launch of the new Zafira 1.6 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), the latest version of Germany's most popular natural gas-powered vehicle. A total of 20,000 units of its predecessor model were produced. At the same time, Opel is making available a wider range of natural gas-powered automobiles – such as the Opel Combo 1.6 CNG, which was launched in May 2005.
These new models share a common feature in the intelligent underfloor placement of the natural gas tanks, which ensures that the CNG versions offer the same, generous interior space and the same versatility as the gasoline and diesel engine models.

Thanks to the innovative monovalentplus concept, both cars have been designed specifically to run on natural gas, biogas, or a mixture of both. The engine technology features special pistons, valve and valve seat inserts, separate injection systems for natural gas and gasoline, and an engine management system optimized for natural gas. A 14-liter reserve gasoline tank is fitted, which allows the driver to switch to gasoline to extend the range of the vehicle. Indeed, when the main tank runs low, the system automatically switches to gasoline, although a manual switch is also provided.

A particular strength of the CNG models is their superior economy – with fuel costs approximately 30 percent lower than the diesel versions (or 50 percent less than the equivalent gasoline engines) – and their environmental compatibility. By virtue of its design, this method of propulsion produces 75 percent less carbon monoxide, 80 percent less nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons, and around 30 percent less CO2. What is more, the exhaust gases contain no soot particles.

Economical and non-polluting: the LPG models from Chevrolet

From the compact Kalos to the practical Tacuma/Rezzo minivan, many Chevrolet models are available in Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands that will run on LPG as well as gasoline (LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas). LPG is an environmentally friendly solution, since it contains virtually no sulfur and its combustion produces far fewer exhaust emissions and soot particles.

The LPG tank holds between 47 and 60 liters, depending on the model, and is located in the vehicle's spare wheel compartment. The size of the trunk is therefore not affected and no modification to the gasoline tank is needed. It is not only the environment that benefits from the use of LPG; high-mileage drivers enjoy considerably lower fuel costs, since throughout Europe LPG costs much less than other fuels. The main reason for this is the lower duty on LPG, a situation that is expected to continue at least until 2009.
A decision to extend this date to the year 2020 is expected soon.

Powerful yet clean: the Saab 9-5 BioPower ethanol model

Saab is the first manufacturer in the premium segment to offer a model in its home market of Sweden that is fueled by ethanol, an eco-friendly renewable energy source. The Saab 9-5 BioPower is not only kinder to the environment, it also produces more power than its gasoline equivalent (180 hp compared with 150 hp) because ethanol has a much higher octane rating (104 RON) than gasoline, making it ideally suited to turbocharged engines. The BioPower is expected to be introduced in other markets, depending on fuel availability.

The new Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower is not only very environmentally friendly; it is also eminently practical, because it runs on any mixture of ethanol and gasoline without intervention from the driver. Ethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops and forest residues. Unlike gasoline, its combustion does not raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), the 'greenhouse' gas that contributes to global warming. In Sweden, ethanol is currently blended (85% ethanol / 15% gasoline) and sold as E85.

The Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower engine running on E85 delivers 180 hp and 280 Nm of torque, compared to 150 hp and 280 Nm with gasoline – a significant 20 per cent increase in maximum power and a 16 per cent increase in torque over the standard model. This makes for a much sportier performance: zero to 100 km/h is accomplished in just
8.5 seconds.

The high performance Saab Trionic engine management system senses the mix of E85 and gasoline in the tank and adjusts the engine timings accordingly. The only hardware modifications necessary are more durable valves and valve seats, and the use of ethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

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