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Data analysis: What are the advantages of methanol-powered buses? (Next part) Author/Source: Date: 2018-03-19 Clicks: 52 In 2016, China’s methanol production capacity reached 81.45 million tons, while the actual output was 50.615 million tons; a large excess of methanol production capacity needed to be addressed. In “Hot Topic: What Are the Advantages of Methanol-Fueled Buses? (Part 1),” the author provided a preliminary analysis of the ecological environment and application status of methanol-powered vehicles in China. In the following sections, further explanations will be given regarding the emission standards and economic efficiency of such vehicles. Interpreting the irrational fear associated with methanol: The Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) stated in October 2015 that methanol possesses some positive fuel properties; it achieves high combustion efficiency in specialized methanol engines, and results in lower emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOX). More than 30 years of practice have shown that no harm to the environment or human health has been observed as a result of the use of methanol fuel. But in everyday life, when people hear about methanol-powered vehicles, the first impression that comes to mind is likely \"toxicity\"; they think that their emissions contain formaldehyde, or that the volatiles can damage the eyes and lead to a decline in the driver’s vision. As a result, everyone became terrified at the mention of brown colors. But is that really the case? According to China Bus Network, big data provided by the data collection centers for methanol vehicle trials in the pilot cities shows that the emissions of M100 methanol vehicles fully meet the National IV standards; moreover, the levels of formaldehyde emissions, which are part of the non-conventional emissions, are only one-tenth of the limits set by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It is reported that since the promotion of methanol-powered vehicles, under the unified arrangement of the **Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s Methanol Vehicle Pilot Office, each pilot city has established a data collection center for these vehicles, and regularly uploads the data to the **Methanol Vehicle Pilot Technology Data Center, thereby ensuring the accuracy, openness, and transparency of the data. In Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, the first pilot city, starting in 2014, the Emission Testing Laboratory of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, the most authoritative institution in the country, has conducted regular and abnormal emission tests on vehicles selected from those in trial operation every March and April for three consecutive years. To date, 12 tests have been conducted on 9 vehicles; among the 6 vehicles tested in 2016, the average mileage was 192,500 kilometers, with the lowest mileage exceeding 160,000 kilometers. The test results showed that, after conventional emission tests covering parameters such as HC, CO, NOX, fuel consumption, and CO2, all the vehicles tested met the National IV standards. In terms of unconventional emission tests, the average formaldehyde emission was 1.316 mg/km, which is only about one-tenth of the limit value of 10 mg/km specified in the \"Technical Requirements for Methanol-Fueled Vehicles\" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; it is even lower than the 2.5 mg/km limit set by California’sLEV2 standard. http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20180319/1718236230386.jpg Coincidentally, the Guiyang Transportation Management Bureau released big data on the first year of operation of methanol-powered taxis in Guiyang in July 2016; according to the measurements taken by the Guiyang Motor Vehicle Emission Monitoring Center, the levels of HC, CO, and NO in methanol-powered vehicles were significantly lower than those in gasoline-powered vehicles. http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20180319/171986234845.jpg The research findings of the American Methanol Institute further support the feasibility of methanol as an alternative fuel. Their research shows that gasoline and diesel vehicles emit more than 20 types of pollutants, whereas methanol vehicles emit only 6 types; moreover, they do not contain carcinogens such as benzene and butadiene, which are harmful to human health and are emitted by gasoline and diesel vehicles. http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20180319/1719476238741.jpg Therefore, formaldehyde emissions are not exclusive to methanol-powered vehicles; formaldehyde is also present in the exhaust gases of gasoline and diesel vehicles. It is reported that Geely conducted tests on formaldehyde emissions for M100 vehicles powered by methanol as well as those powered by gasoline and diesel, all with the same engine capacity. The formaldehyde emission level for the M100 methanol vehicle was 0.339 mg/km, which is slightly lower than that of gasoline vehicles at 0.492 mg/km, and far lower than that of diesel vehicles at 4.171 mg/km. Therefore, Li Shufu said that solar energy is the fundamental source of all energy used by humanity, and it is a clean energy source that will never run out. In natural systems, liquids are the most efficient medium, featuring high energy storage density, good stability, low losses during storage, and ease of transportation. Methanol is, in essence, liquidized sunlight; it represents an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly energy system for achieving green development. Therefore, the economic community has introduced the concept of a “liquid sunlight economy,” referring to an economy that makes extensive use of methanol in various fields to achieve sustainable development and coexist harmoniously with nature, and which is thus born, triggered, and formed. Comparing data to assess the economic viability of methanol-powered vehicles: According to Chen Nanping, secretary-general of the Mechanical Cooperation Network for professional bus transportation companies in Jiangsu Province, during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, due to high fuel prices and lower natural gas costs, the Ministry of Transport promoted the use of gas-powered vehicles among transportation companies in order to reduce their operating costs, offering incentives for this. Starting from 2010, and particularly from 2012 to 2015, provinces such as Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Sichuan successively became pilot provinces for natural gas buses. However, with changes in subsidy policies, natural gas buses lost their prominence starting in 2016. Correspondingly, the cost-effectiveness of methanol vehicles better reflects actual demand. According to China Bus Network, methanol-powered vehicles are in line with China’s national conditions of having abundant coal but limited oil, and they facilitate the rational and maximum utilization of coal-based methanol resources. Using methanol as fuel in cars is more economical than using gasoline. An ordinary family car consumes around 8 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers; at a price of 6.5 yuan per liter for 93-octane gasoline, the cost to travel 100 kilometers is 52 yuan. When the fuel in cars with the same displacement is replaced by methanol, 12 liters of methanol are required per 100 kilometers. However, the price of methanol is only around 2 yuan per liter; thus, the cost to travel 100 kilometers is only 24 yuan. The cost of using methanol as fuel is half that of using gasoline, making it highly economical compared to vehicles that use natural gas. http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20180319/1720296242915.jpg Comparisons show that, for economic reasons, natural gas engines mostly operate in a lean-burn mode; as a result, they produce higher levels of HC emissions, and their catalysts have poor durability. Compared to urban buses, they contribute significantly to urban pollution. On the other hand, methanol engines operate at the theoretical air-fuel ratio, which results in lower emissions compared to natural gas engines, and their catalysts also have better durability. Therefore, from an environmental perspective, methanol engines have advantages. Additionally, as the number of methanol-powered buses increases, the demand for methanol rises, leading to further declines in its price in the supply chain. This makes methanol more cost-effective for use in buses, giving it an economic advantage over natural gas buses. Furthermore, in terms of procurement costs, taking 10-12 meter buses as an example, methanol-powered buses are on average about 10,000 yuan cheaper than those powered by natural gas, and they also have a longer driving range than gas-powered buses. From the \"Blue Geely Initiative\" to the \"Liquid Sun Economy\" Geely, a leader in the methanol vehicle industry, announced in 2015 its new energy vehicle development strategy for 2020 – the \"Blue Geely Initiative\". This strategy aimed to accelerate the transition from traditional vehicles to new energy vehicles, with the goal of becoming China’s leading new energy vehicle company. By 2020, it was intended that new energy vehicles would account for over 90% of Geely’s total vehicle sales. In 2018, Geely once again proposed the \"Liquid Sunshine Economy,\" calling for innovation in institutional mechanisms and policies as a way to fully leverage the comprehensive resource advantages of the demonstration zones, and to coordinate efforts in advancing technological innovation in the methanol industry, providing scientific and technical services, and fostering industrial clustering. Through the exploration of institutional mechanisms and market-oriented operations, close coordination among the various platforms within the demonstration zone is established, creating a world-class innovation and entrepreneurship environment for the methanol economy. Cooperation is also forged with specialized R&D resources outside the demonstration zone, thereby turning it into a model base for methanol applications. Geely’s confidence stems from the mature technology of methanol vehicles in our country, as well as its leading position in the industry on a global scale. At present, many automobile companies in our country are engaged in the research and development of methanol-powered vehicles. In the pilot program for methanol-powered vehicles launched by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2013, the performance of these vehicles in various regions was good. At the same time, the production, testing, component supply, maintenance service systems, and construction standards for methanol vehicles have also been gradually improved and continue to be refined. On this basis, Li Shufu suggested formulating relevant industry policies and technical standards, further improving the policies governing the alcohol-based fuel industry, and establishing a series of industry standards, including standards for methanol boilers and methanol used in vehicles. It is also necessary to set up systems for certifying related technologies and products, increase efforts to implement and promote these standards, and provide greater support for major demonstration projects involving the use of methanol fuel. This will help ensure the healthy and orderly development of industries related to the \"liquid sunlight economy\" as well as advance research and development in key technologies and the transformation of innovative achievements. Regarding methanol-powered vehicles, efforts should be made to accelerate their commercialization as soon as possible. The research, development, demonstration, and pilot testing of methanol-powered vehicles have spanned 36 years, during which numerous experiments and pilots have proven the safety, cost-effectiveness, performance, reliability, and environmental friendliness of such vehicles. Given the current energy and market conditions in our country, it is recommended to take a substantive step toward methanol substitution by opening up the market for methanol-powered vehicles and accelerating their market-based operation. Li Shufu also suggested that, in the early stages of the development of methanol-powered vehicles, **supporting policies should be provided to facilitate a swift market-based transition. Furthermore, it is recommended to continue improving the construction of infrastructure supporting methanol vehicle use, as well as related systems, operational management, and safety assessments for such applications. By building on the pilot experiences with methanol vehicles in certain regions of China, efforts should be made to strengthen and enhance the development of infrastructure, operational management, and safety assessments in a wider range of areas.