California Alcohol Fleet Vehicle Program

During the past decade, methanol and ethanol have received growing attention as supplements and replacements for petroleum based fuels. The alcohols can increase power and thermal efficiency over gasoline while reducing oxides of nitrogen emissions. This evidence has resulted in the State of California initiating fleet experiments using pure alcohols. The purposes of these experiments and early evidence from these fleets are incorporated with other engine and vehicle evidence in this paper to indicate a possible evolutionary path for alcohol use as a transportation fuel in the United States.