Methanol-gasoline to fuel cars in Zhejiang cities

Shanghai, December 18 (Gasgoo.com) In the first quarter of 2009, vehicles in some cities of east China's Zhejiang province will use the methanol-gasoline blends, a high-clean fuel which now is cheaper by 0.5 yuan ($0.073) a liter than the common gasoline, said sina.com today.

Two fuel manufacturers have been designated for producing the methanol, and other preparatory projects are also underway. One of the enterprises for this pilot project is Huzhou Jinshan Fuel Company. Yesterday the company described the specifications and features of its high-clean methanol-gasoline fuel (M15) to eight auto-energy experts. The fuel product made by this company will be officially approved for promotion and application as alternative energy of the auto industry.

The initial scheme of the project shows that Zhejiang will select its provincial capital city of Hangzhou and three other cities for the pilot project. Some vehicles in the four cities will trial-run on the methanol-gasoline blends made by two fuel companies in the province. And this alternative fuel will be promoted for vehicle use in more cities if the trial program proves successful.

The pilot project for the methanol-gasoline fuel in Zhejiang province will focus on the high-clean methanol-gasoline fuel M15. The methanol made by Huzhou Jinshan Fuel Company can be mixed at a proportion of 15%-20% with gasoline to form the methanol-gasoline blends as vehicle fuel.

As a kind of new-generation high-tech fuel, the methanol-gasoline blends can be used for powering many cars, with no need to change or modify the vehicle's engine. Currently the high-clean methanol-gasoline M15 is cheaper by 0.5 yuan a liter than the common gasoline.