As part of the California Alternative-Fueled Truck Demonstration, sponsored by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), a methanol-fueled Ford 6.6L MX engine was installed in an 8-bay bottled water delivery truck operated by Arrowhead Drinking Water Company in Los Angeles, California. The engine was an in-line 6-cylinder, naturally aspirated, spark-ignited, four-stroke engine rated at 170 hp (127 kW). The truck operated in regular service at Arrowhead from August 1990 through January 1992. Arrowhead personnel recorded daily operating data on mileage, engine hours, and fuel consumption for the methanol truck, as well as for an equivalent diesel truck used for experimental control. The methanol truck was fueled at a nearby commercial M85 fueling station.
The methanol truck accumulated 13,486 miles (21,699 km) and 1,141 engine hours of operation in 17 months of service, and exhibited performance and reliability equal to the diesel control vehicle. On an energy-equivalent basis, fuel economy for the methanol truck was 9 percent less than the diesel control truck. A three-way catalytic converter was used to control emissions to far below current and future heavy-duty standards. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions of 1.21 g/bhp-hr (1.62 g/kW-hr) were achieved with the methanol engine.