Use of alcohol (methanol and ethanol) as fuel for the same engine as the concept of a history. 19th century, by Nicholas Otto (NicholasOtto), who developed the internal combustion engine model is actually an early design be driven into the alcohol, followed by the easy to get because oil was cheaper to replace.

    Climate and energy issues in the increasingly grim today, alcohol fuel again by people all ages. The important relative to the origin of sugar cane in Brazil and the United States, agricultural development, agricultural land for fuel ethanol may be China, not so tight fit. However, as taken through the system of coal chemical products, methanol fuel is completely rich in coal resources in China stand out.

    Methanol is a high oxygen content of low-carbon fuels, combustion does not require too much air, helps to reduce the carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions. At the same time, the use of methanol does not require the existing system of car manufacturers and fuel transportation, storage system to make too many changes, it does not require too much input costs. Therefore, methanol can be said to be a very suitable for the development of alternative fuels. Nobel Prize winner George Ola (GeorgeOlah) even think that the "methanol economy" is beyond the era of the most important oil and gas a solution.

    However, the promotion of methanol fuel is not going well - originally expected to be introduced before the end of 2010 the low proportion of national standards for methanol fuel (M15) release time will be postponed, but for pure methanol fuel (M100) of "methanol fuel vehicle standard "Although released, but the methanol fuel and methanol vehicles to enter the market have been worse," paid off. " So, people in the end there is any alternative fuels such concerns? If these concerns can be eliminated, industrial development and how to promote it?

    The problem is not a problem

    Of more traditional clean vehicle fuel alternative, there are many options - which could be methanol, ethanol, biofuels, or natural gas. Then, select the methanol What for?

    Deputy Secretary-General in the Internal Combustion Engine Industry Association WEI force view, the choice of alternative fuels there are several basic principles. First, to ensure that material self-sufficiency. Second, the use of alternative fuels, the technology must be improved. Third, the use of alternative fuels can not be destroyed as far as possible the existing industrial system. WEI Li believes that, with methanol as a fuel just to satisfy the principle of these items.

    Methanol is coal-based fuel, can be produced by way of coal chemical industry, which for more coal and less gas tension in China, agricultural land, after all, a very good option. Moreover, the coal to produce methanol, but also is in line with the characteristics of China's coal resources. China has close to 40% of the coal resources are of high sulfur coal, the sulfur content of more than 1%. The coal can not be directly used for power generation, but it can be directly used for making methanol. According to former Deputy Chief Engineer Rong Huikang FAW Group, currently some of the coal-methanol 70% of the project can even recycle the carbon dioxide emissions, and Preparation of urea, acetic acid and other products, multi-generation.

    Using methanol fuel for internal combustion engines manufacturing system only need small changes, changes to the production assembly process is very simple, with the traditional production system general-purpose vehicles is high. And if just small amounts of methanol mixed with gasoline, blending into a low percentage of gasoline, or even do not need to make any changes to existing cars can use.

    The greatest concerns for the concentration of methanol fuel and emissions in the toxicity of the two major problems. WEI force in view, in fact, people are worried about this too. For toxicity, he noted that the Capital University of Medical done as early as 20 years ago, comparative experiments, the relevant international organizations have been assessed, resulting in toxic levels of methanol and gasoline are the same. Methanol, although toxic, can not drink, but the same is true of gasoline. Therefore, the challenge is all the toxicity of methanol, a "habitual about Law," has been in the industry do not talk about this problem.