The Case for Methanol

Spurred by concerns of declining air quality, the race for alternative automobile fuels is on. The authors advocate a switch to methanol, arguing that it is the most economic and environmentally prudent of the fuels now being considered. The authors conclude that the US should respond by developing a methanol-based transportation system as soon as possible. The paper compares the design and emissions of a gasoline-powered vehicle to a methanol-powered vehicle, highlighting the foreseeable benefits and identifying anticipated problems with methanol fuels.