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The standards for methanol-based gasoline in China will be submitted by the end of the year, said Chen Weiguo, secretary-general of the National Professional Committee on Alkoxide Fuels and Alkoxide Clean Vehicles, at the China Fuel Synthesis Conference held here. The standards for a high proportion of methanol-based gasoline in China will be submitted to the Standardization Administration Committee by the end of this year, with approval expected in the first half of next year. The draft standard for low-proportion methanol fuel will also be finalized in the first quarter of next year. This means that methanol gasoline in China will gradually move toward standardization. High-proportion methanol gasoline refers to a blended fuel in which the proportion of methanol mixed with gasoline exceeds 85%. It has good power performance, and its carbon dioxide emissions are lower than those of gasoline fuel; it is a key focus for China in the development of alternative energy sources. Chen Weiguo explained that methanol can be produced using high-sulfur coal or coke oven gas; the raw materials for its production are abundant, the technology is mature, and the costs are low. Statistics show that car sales in China reached 7.38 million units in 2006, and this year they are expected to exceed 8.5 million units. The growing automobile market places immense pressure on energy resources.