Methanol
Methanol is a multipurpose fuel as it could be used straight, as blending component in fuels, or for the production of fuel components. Methanol is considered also as a fuel for fuel cell electric vehicles, For conventional engines, methanol use is straightforward when converted to a gasoline component called MTBE or to diesel component called FAME. High concentration methanol blends, such as 85 vol-% methanol in gasoline (M85) can be used in special Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). Methanol is used in China as various blends ranging from M5 to M100 and in some markets gasoline/ethanol/methanol blends (GEM) are considered. In many regions, for example in Europe and North America, blending of methanol in gasoline is limited up to a few percentages. If methanol is used at high blending ratios in gasoline, corrosion inhibitors, co-solvents, and alcohol compatible materials in vehicles are needed to resist phase separation, to maintain stability and safety. Technologies for methanol use in diesel and dual-fuels engines have been developed and methanol is already used as marine fuel in a few ships. Methanol properties would allow automakers to design high efficiency engines to compensate low energy density of methanol. If methanol will be applied as automotive fuel with higher blending ratios or as pure fuel, technical adjustments of the existing fuel infrastructure are required. Generally, methanol combustion shows low emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particles. Formaldehyde emissions tend to increase, especially at cold-starts. Methanol is biodegradable.