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Hot topic: What are the advantages of methanol-powered buses? (Part 1) Author/Source: Date: 2018-03-19 Clicks: 52 The national ** in 2018 attracted attention from various sectors. The automotive industry has noted that Li Shufu, the 13th REN representative and chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, submitted a proposal in 2018 titled \"Promoting the Marketization of Methanol Vehicles through a ‘Liquid Sunlight Economy’.\" China Bus Network notes that Li Shufu’s proposal from 2017 was aimed at \"accelerating the nationwide adoption of methanol-powered vehicles\"; in other words, building on his ideas from 2017, Li Shufu developed an upgraded version of those concepts regarding methanol-powered vehicles. Therefore, the pilot programs for methanol-powered vehicles and the use of methanol in Geely’s commercial vehicles have once again become hot topics of discussion within the industry. Fundamentals of methanol vehicle applications and their promotion Clean energy vehicles fall under the broader category of new energy vehicles. In addition to hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel-cell electric vehicles, other clean energy sources that can be used in cars at present include natural gas, methanol, ethanol, solar energy, biogas, and so on. Methanol, commonly known as \"wood alcohol\" or \"methyl alcohol,\" is a liquid produced primarily from coal through vaporization and hydrogenation. Its properties are similar to those of gasoline, and vehicles that use methanol as fuel are called methanol vehicles. Methanol is a clean energy source, but its advantages extend beyond simply having cleaner emissions after combustion. The raw materials used for its production are diverse; in addition to coal and natural gas, high-sulfur coal, coalbed methane, coke oven gas, biomass, and hydrogenation of carbon dioxide can all be used to produce methanol. Moreover, the relevant technologies are well-developed, which brings numerous benefits and creates favorable conditions for the development of methanol-powered vehicles. The use of methanol as a substitute for petroleum fuel has been in practice abroad for many years. In China, pilot projects and market-based promotions of methanol-powered vehicles have been carried out in coal-producing provinces such as Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Shanxi, with satisfactory results. In his proposal in 2017 to accelerate the nationwide adoption of methanol-powered vehicles, Li Shufu stated that extensive basic research, experimental testing, and pilot operations have fully demonstrated that methanol as a fuel possesses advantages such as safety and stability, excellent properties, wide applicability, and low pollution levels. In particular, the PM2.5 emissions produced by methanol-powered vehicles are 80% lower than those of conventional gasoline vehicles with the same engine capacity. In 2018, Li Shufu reiterated that methanol possesses the characteristics of a super-clean fuel. According to reports from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, its carbon dioxide emissions are more than 50% lower than those of coal and oil, while its emissions of carbon oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter are minimal. At the same time, methanol has physical and chemical properties similar to those of gasoline and diesel, making it easy to store and transport. Using methanol as a fuel can accelerate the reduction of dependence on coal resources, and large-scale industrial production can be carried out without any **subsidies. Furthermore, as a versatile energy carrier, methanol can be used in various fields such as petrochemical raw materials, boiler fuel, marine fuel, and vehicle fuel. At the same time, it is also possible to explore using more abundant power resources to produce methanol, which can then be used as a storage medium for electricity. Scientific research also shows that methanol is a raw material for the media of many engineered bacteria, and it serves as an important foundation for the development of the food and pharmaceutical industries. In summary, in the present and foreseeable future, methanol – as an energy carrier with clean combustion properties and excellent transportation advantages, as well as being green, efficient, and cost-effective – and also serving as a substrate for industrial ethanol – will become an important choice for energy in an era of global green development. Currently, some research institutions have proposed technical development pathways for \"liquid sunlight,\" outlining three progressive stages to reduce carbon emissions in the energy cycle from methanol production to its use. The high-carbon-emission phase involves the technology used to produce methanol from fossil fuels; this technology has been in use for decades, with coal representing the first generation of raw materials and natural gas the second generation. At present, over 60% of the methanol produced globally is manufactured using natural gas as a raw material; this process requires less investment and generates less pollution compared to those based on coal. The second stage, aimed at reducing carbon emissions, involves using hydrogen-rich coal-based mixtures, along with natural gas, nuclear energy, or renewable energy sources to produce methanol, thereby significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions during the production process. The third stage, which seeks carbon neutrality, relies on fourth-generation biomass technologies and fifth-generation technologies; further basic research and technological development are still needed in this area. Due to China’s energy resource structure, which is characterized by an abundance of coal but a shortage of oil and gas, there is a lack of cheap natural gas resources. As a result, coal-based methanol production accounts for 77.3% of the country’s total methanol production capacity, while methanol produced from natural gas accounts for only 13.2%. Domestically, coal-based methanol production involves high water consumption and severe environmental pollution; the production areas are remote, resulting in high transportation costs, and there is intense competition due to product homogenization. Therefore, there is an urgent need to move away from reliance on coal as a raw material, and to progress as quickly as possible from the first stage to the second and third stages. Therefore, Li Shufu proposed in the 2018 proposal to establish major methanol technology projects aimed at researching and developing, as well as industrializing, the high-tech solutions related to the entire process from methanol synthesis to its wide-ranging applications. This would enable China to gain a technological advantage, achieve continuous improvement and breakthroughs in the methanol industry, and facilitate the industrialization of such high technologies on a global scale. It is recommended to integrate the top technological R&D capabilities in the industry, and use asset operation platforms to promote and bring these technologies to commercial use. Pilot applications of methanol buses The promotion of methanol-powered vehicles requires the attention of the whole society, as methanol, as a clean energy source, does not need subsidies. According to China Bus Network, subsidies were once provided in some pilot areas, but they have all been removed now. Taking Shanxi as an example, since 2008, the province has provided policy incentives for the methanol conversion of existing vehicles. The incentive measures have been in place for 3 years, with the subsidy amount being 10,000 per large bus. In 2016, Shanxi Province issued the \"Management Measures for Subsidies on the Marketing of New Energy Vehicles,\" which provided a subsidy of 5,000 yuan per methanol-powered bus. This policy was in effect until the end of 2016. According to Lei Hongjun, deputy secretary-general of the Hubei Automobile Engineering Society and a veteran technical expert in the bus industry, Geely’s methanol engines are basically mature, and Geely’s methanol-powered commercial vehicles can be regarded as representatives of the industry. It is reported that Geely’s Remote Motors has two R&D centers in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and Coventry, UK. It has also established four manufacturing facilities in Yiwu, Zhejiang, Nanchong, Sichuan, Jincheng, Shanxi, and Coventry, UK. In the future, it aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles powered by extended-range systems and clean energy sources, along with the corresponding powertrain systems. Its products will include trucks, buses, and new energy power systems; such strong hardware capabilities provide a solid technical foundation for its future product development. As of March 2018, the **Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had issued announcements in 13 batches regarding 8 methanol vehicle manufacturers and 23 different methanol vehicle models; these products cover a range of vehicle types suitable for use as sedans, heavy commercial vehicles, microcars, and urban buses. Technologically, all the technical challenges associated with methanol-powered vehicles have now been fully overcome. In terms of policy, our country is gradually placing more emphasis on supporting the promotion and use of methanol-powered vehicles. On February 22, 2018, the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the \"Key Points for Industrial Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization in 2018\". Regarding methanol-powered vehicles, it was stated that efforts should be made to deepen pilot projects related to such vehicles, to accelerate the development of key standards in this field, and to promote the use of methanol-powered vehicles. Expansion At present, China’s development of new energy vehicles has achieved remarkable results on the world stage; it has shifted from overtaking others on curves to taking the lead, from being a follower to becoming a pioneer – and each of us is witnessing this great historical moment. However, behind this rapid development lies the relentless efforts of the entire industry, as well as competition and discussions among various technical approaches: hybrid, all-electric, hydrogen fuel, methanol-powered vehicles... Different technical approaches have distinct application markets, but each of them will make its own contribution to the development of new energy vehicles in our country.