Technical and Economical Aspects of Methanol as an Automotive Fuel

The results of basic test series conducted on a single-cylinder engine are used to establish the reasons that advocate the introduction of methanol or methanol-gasoline blends as alternative fuel for motor-vehicle operation: lower exhaust emission concentrations, improved energy utilization, higher engine output, and improved knock-resistance. Fuel and energy consumption data are submitted for four vehicle concepts operated on methanol fuels, to establish data on the economic aspects of methanol-operated vehicles. It is apparent that the utilization of the antiknock effects of methanol can lead to competitive gasoline-methanol blend vehicle operation at the present cost of gasoline and methanol. Vehicle operation of pure methanol would offer economic advantages over gasoline operation if gasoline is derived from coal.