Which expert could explain in detail which is better, methanol-based gasoline or ethanol-based gasoline?
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At the beginning of September, Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, revealed at the 2017 China Auto Industry Development (Taida) International Forum that China **has already begun to study a timeline for phasing out the production and sales of vehicles powered by traditional fuels. Subsequently, multiple departments including the **Development and Reform Commission** and the Energy Bureau jointly issued the \"Implementation Plan on Expanding the Production of Biofuel Ethanol and Promoting the Use of Ethanol-blended Gasoline in Vehicles\", which calls for the nationwide promotion of such gasoline, with full coverage to be achieved by 2020. Which is more suitable for China’s national conditions, ethanol-blended gasoline or methanol-blended gasoline?
Methanol is toxic, and there is a potential risk of exposure during car repairs, including when pouring oil from the tank using a suction tube. Vehicles powered by methanol emit 3 to 6 times more formaldehyde than those powered by regular gasoline. Developing fuel ethanol gasoline is currently costly, but it helps improve China’s capacity for grain processing and conversion. The technology behind ethanol gasoline is relatively mature; it has low corrosivity and is non-toxic. Moreover, there are successful experiences in the promotion of ethanol gasoline abroad. Ethanol gasoline can be produced from straw in the future; this not only reduces costs, but also represents waste utilization. It is a renewable energy source, supports agricultural development, and reduces environmental pollution. The production of methanol from coal actually involves using one form of energy source (coal) and, through the consumption of certain amount of energy, converting it into another form of energy source (methanol); the energy loss in this process reaches 60%. Overall, the development of ethanol gasoline holds more promise
I just checked – the price of ethanol is almost twice that of methanol, so the costs are too high.
Upstairs, it’s almost twice as high, I guess