Methanol-driven auto technically possible: industry authorities

TAIYUAN, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's year-long pilot scheme of methanol-fueled vehicles shines the potential of this alternative fuel for vehicle use.

Technically there is no significant obstacle, announced the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) at a symposium on the national experimental work of methanol-fueled automobiles being held in Jinzhong City, north China's Shanxi Province, over the weekend.

The MIIT made public stage detecting data of the experiment which was initiated in 2012 in Shanxi, Shaanxi provinces, and Shanghai. A total of 281 vehicles fueled by methanol joined the experiment.

The data indicated that operation of these vehicles was normal and stable. Emissions including nitrogen oxide were 40 to 50 percent lower than the limits set by the IV national standard. Some indicators met the criteria set by the V national standard.

The emission of methanol, an unconventional pollutant, was only six percent of the official limit. Health check of people who have contacted with methanol did not show abnormal results.

The cost of methanol as an alternative fuel for automobiles was 48 percent lower than the conventional fossil fuel.

"The conventional emission is relatively clean," said Su Bo, MIIT vice minister, "the use of methanol abiding by operation rules causes no harm to human health."

"Methanol is of strategic significance for safeguarding China's energy security in mid- and long terms," said Su.

He said China would further the methanol-fueled auto experiment and improve related technologies. Northwestern Gansu Province and southwestern Guizhou Province will join the pilot plan with 1,800 vehicles.

Policies will be mapped out to encourage more automobile manufacturers to develop methanol-driven engines and vehicles, the vice minister said.

Methanol-fueled internal combustion engines need to endure high temperatures and erosion, which is the core tech to develop methanol-driven vehicles.

Nitrogen oxide emitted by fossil fuels may react with water to make nitric acid and nitrate, which could cause acid rain. The chemicals produced during combustion, at high temperature in particular, may also create smog together with other pollutants.

Beijing, with more than five million vehicles, has been suffering from increasingly serious air pollution. Electronic vehicles, however, have yet to be widely received because of shortage of battery charging facilities.