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Saab Unveils Engine System Using Orbital Technology

29 September 2000

Saab Unveils Engine System Using Orbital Technology

    PERTH, Australia, Sept. 29 Orbital Engine Corporation (ASX: OEC) (Berlin: ORE)
(Frankfurt: OREA) today announced that Saab Automobiles AB has unveiled a new
"engine control" system incorporating Orbital's direct fuel injection
technology.
    Saab is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, which has been an
Orbital licensee since 1989.  Saab, the centre of expertise for turbo charged
petrol engines for the GM group, said the Saab Combustion Control (SCC)
system, unveiled this week at the prestigious Paris Motor Show, will be
launched in the next generation of Saab cars.
    Saab is the first major automotive manufacturer to publicly display a
product incorporating Orbital's technology.
    Orbital technology is already in use in a range of commercial products in
the motorcycle, marine and recreation markets, however, the automotive market
holds the greatest potential for Orbital.
    Ten major automotive manufacturers are evaluating the use of Orbital's
direct fuel injection technology and we are increasingly confident that others
will follow Saab's lead.
    Saab said the SCC system was developed to lower fuel consumption while
radically reducing exhaust emissions, but without impairing engine
performance.
    Fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 10 per cent while exhaust
emissions can be lowered to a value below the American Ultra Low Emission
Vehicle 2 (ULEV2) requirements that come into force in 2005.
    It added that the SCC system is a "global" engine system since it meets
the emissions standards in both the United States and Europe.
    Compared to today's Saab engines with equivalent performance, the SCC
system will almost halve the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions and
will cut the nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent.
    The SCC system is based on three main components -- air-assisted direct
fuel injection developed jointly with Orbital, variable valve timing and
variable spark gap.
    Orbital's direct fuel injection process uses low-pressure air to inject a
finely atomised fuel spray directly into the cylinder.  It contrasts with
conventional petrol injection systems where the petrol is injected into an
intake manifold, and competing "high-pressure" direct injection systems.
    Lean burn "high-pressure" direct injection systems require a special
catalytic converter with a "nitrogen oxide trap" to control emissions.  These
special catalysts have several disadvantages, including higher production
costs and the need for low sulfur petrol for proper operation.  (A full
explanation of the Saab Combustion Control system is provided in the attached
5-page Information paper prepared by Saab.)