Methanol as an automobile fuel

Stephen H. Dole

Expert InsightsPublished 1979

The principal physical property that separates gasoline and methanol is heat of combustion. Methanol's heat of combustion is less than half that of gasoline. Consequently, methanol transportation and distribution costs are roughly twice that of gasoline because about twice the volume is required to deliver equal quantities of energy. Methanol necessitates special handling during transportation and storage to prevent dilution with water. Thus, the whole distribution system would need modifying. These higher distribution costs impose a penalty on methanol relative to gasoline; in addition, there is a weight penalty for the automobile because more than twice as much weight of methanol is needed for a given distance. The author concludes that methanol cannot compete with gasoline as an automotive fuel, unless the price of gasoline rises considerably relative to that of methanol.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1979
  • Pages: 8
  • Document Number: P-6303

Citation

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Dole, Stephen H., Methanol as an automobile fuel. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1979. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P6303.html.
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