Like the fossils they were derived from, petroleum-based fuels are expected to be extinct by the middle of this century. While electric power is the current frontrunner as far as more sustainable means of propulsion are concerned, some carmakers are exploring other alternatives as well.
Geely boss Li Shufu says that the effort is a worthwhile investment, even with the prospect of failure
One of them is Geely. The Chinese carmaker already has hybrid and battery electric vehicles, but it’s not letting go of internal combustion just yet. Geely Chairman Li Shufu announced that Geely will continue its work on developing methanol-powered vehicles, whatever the outcome of the research may be.
“We will keep exploring methanol vehicle technologies,” Li said in an industry conference held in Chongqing. “Of course, it might fail in the end, but currently we are still working on it.” He declared that Geely will expand production of methanol vehicles, adding that he expects these to be cleaner than their gasoline equivalents.
A number of Geely models such as the Azkarra currently utilize mild-hybrid technology
The Zhejiang-based company that owns Volvo Cars and a 9.7 percent stake in Daimler AG recently invested in Icelandic firm Carbon Recycling International, part of its plan to work on producing methanol using carbon dioxide to reduce overall carbon emissions.
Geely joins a small group of automakers actively exploring methanol as a viable fuel for vehicles, including Zhengzhou Yutong Bus, Shaanxi Heavy Auto, and Shaanxi Tongjia Automobile. All of them have taken part in a six-year methanol vehicle pilot program organized by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), deploying more than 1,000 methanol cars and trucks in several Chinese cities.
The company previously marketed an ethanol-powered version of its Emgrand sedan in China
The pilot was followed by a policy promoting methanol use for vehicles and machinery, issued by eight ministries of China’s central government in 2019. Transitioning to this particular alternative fuel is seen as a boost to China’s efforts at energy independence since the country currently has a heavy reliance on coal, which can be converted to methanol.
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