Methanol Cars? Another Policy Support!

The development of methanol vehicles in China has a history of more than 40 years. As a low-carbon, oxygenated fuel, methanol has the characteristics of efficient combustion, clean emission and renewable green properties, and is liquid at room temperature and pressure, so it is safer and more convenient to store, transport and use than other new and clean energy sources.

At the same time, methanol has a wide range of production sources, huge economic volume and sustainable development of the whole industry chain. Therefore, methanol has become a new type of clean and green energy recognized by the global industry, and is an important choice for building future green energy.

At this year's two sessions, Li Shufu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and chairman of Geely Holding Group, brought two proposals, "Proposal on Promoting the Application of Methanol Vehicles to Help Carbon Neutrality in Transportation" and "Proposal on Increasing the Construction of Electric Vehicle Power Exchange System". Li Shufu suggested that methanol vehicles should be included in the development system and management of new energy vehicles, and methanol vehicles should be given the same policy support as new energy vehicles.

Li Shufu believes that the development of methanol vehicles can promote the development of green methanol and drive the scale of green methanol, which is fully based on the actual national conditions and in line with the purpose of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutral" in orderly and steady progress in China.

In terms of energy saving and emission reduction contribution, methanol vehicles are highly energy-efficient. The calorific value ratio of methanol to gasoline is 2.2:1, and according to the data of pilot operation of methanol vehicles in China, the actual consumption ratio of methanol to gasoline in vehicles is about 1.7:1. Therefore, compared with gasoline vehicles, the energy efficiency of methanol vehicles is improved by about 21%, and CO2 emissions are reduced by about 26%.

There is great potential for energy saving and emission reduction at the methanol production end. Modern coal to methanol technology coupled with renewable energy to make green hydrogen and green oxygen technology can realize zero emission in methanol production process.

The combination of coke oven gas rich hydrogen production and CO2 synthesis methanol process technology can eliminate about 900 kg of CO2 emissions in the environment by producing 1 ton of methanol. Therefore, the carbon emission of methanol vehicle end-use will also be further reduced.

In terms of carbon neutral contribution, "electric methanol" made from renewable energy electrolysis of water and CO2 capture, as well as biomass methanol made from straw and municipal waste, are all green renewable methanol. The application of such renewable methanol can achieve carbon balance. Therefore, methanol has become an important option for many countries to achieve carbon neutrality in the transportation sector.

China's oil dependency exceeds 70%, and oil consumption in transportation sector accounts for more than 70%. Among the many new and clean energy sources (electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, ammonia, etc.) in the transportation sector, methanol is the only energy source that is liquid at room temperature and pressure, with excellent fuel characteristics, safe and convenient to use, and has both the combustion characteristics of gasoline and diesel.

Li Shufu said, "The development of methanol vehicles can guarantee China's energy security, especially liquid energy security in transportation."

On the other hand, methanol is the only new energy source that can inherit advanced internal combustion engine technology. In terms of infrastructure investment, usage pattern change and impact on related industry fields, methanol has significant advantages. Li Shufu believes that "the development of methanol cars can continue the vitality of the dominant power of internal combustion engine in China."

Give methanol vehicles the same policy support as new energy vehicles

The "14th Five-Year" Industrial Green Development Plan released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially includes methanol vehicles as green products and proposes to promote alternative fuel vehicles such as methanol vehicles.

At present, in the field of waterway transportation, both domestic and foreign countries have started the development of methanol ships to lead the shipping industry to advance carbon neutrality.

Relevant regulations, guidelines, technical standards for design, construction and inspection of methanol-fueled ships in China have been established; methanol green intelligent ships and marine methanol engine development have been supported by national major special projects; relevant shipyards have started the construction of methanol-fueled ships.

In the field of land transportation, the technology of methanol fuel and methanol vehicles in China is more mature. Since the Sixth Five-Year Plan, the research and development and demonstration application of methanol fuel and methanol vehicles in China have been supported by relevant state ministries and commissions.

From 2012 to 2018, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology took the lead in organizing a large-scale methanol vehicle pilot operation project, which comprehensively verified the environmental friendliness, applicability and reliability of methanol fuel and methanol vehicle applications.

The development of methanol fuel is entirely based on the actual energy resource endowment of China, which is "rich in coal, short of oil and gas", and the energy-saving and emission reduction potential of methanol and its future contribution to carbon neutrality are recognized internationally. Developing methanol fuel and promoting the application of methanol vehicles in China are of great significance to achieve the strategic goal of double carbon in transportation, guarantee energy security and promote healthy and sustainable economic development.

Li Shufu suggested that methanol vehicles be promoted and applied comprehensively in China, methanol vehicles be incorporated into the development system and management of new energy vehicles, methanol vehicles be given the same policy support as new energy vehicles, and more enterprises be driven to invest in the research and development of methanol vehicles to accelerate the realization of carbon neutrality in the transportation sector.