00371342

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...s/trr/1982/870/870-012.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...ling&publication_year=1982

One set of opportunities for decreasing the transportation sector's dependence on petroleum is the substitution of methanol for gasoline. The potential for implementing the transition is investigated within the context of a development path. Elsewhere, the feasibility of methanol has been studied mostly from either a production or an end-use perspective. Here, a systems perspective is used to integrate methanol production, distribution, and end-use activities into a staged development path. The path chosen is one designed to simulate a rapid and large production buildup. The choice of a high-growth path accentuates future conflicts and therefore sets the framework for pursuing the two purposes of the paper: (a) to highlight the critical factors that affect the expansion of methanol fuel activities and (b) to identify key opportunities for hastening the transition to methanol fuels. A set of market penetration strategies is devised that best responds to constraints and opportunities, and specific government and industry actions are proposed to support these strategies. It is shown that technical, economic, and institutional barriers to efficient distribution and rapid market penetration may be overcome with a moderate amount of government support. That support depends, however, on the formation of a national consensus to support methanol as an alternative fuel. The implementability of a high-growth methanol path is addressed. The major concerns are examined in order to give policymakers and others an understanding of the costs and responsibilities government would have to assume in order to promote a rapid transition to methanol fuel use. (Author)

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Energy Conservation and Transportation Demand. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

00380410

HS-035 239

pp 71-78

1982

Transportation Research Record

61st Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board

0309033748

Print

Figures (2) ; References (17)

Gasoline; Market research; Methanol; Policy

Economics; Highways; Policy; Society; I10: Economics and Administration

HSL, TRIS, TRB

Mar 31 1983 12:00AM

• ASSESSMENT OF STATE EMERGENCY ENERGY CONSERVATION PLANNING
• ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PETROLEUM SHORTAGES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
• EFFICACY OF URBAN-AREA TRANSPORTATION CONTINGENCY PLANS: A STUDY OF COMPLETED PLANS
• ENERGY CONSERVATION POTENTIAL OF STAGGERED WORK HOURS
• ENERGY IMPACTS OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
• FORECASTS OF INTERCITY PASSENGER DEMAND AND ENERGY USE THROUGH 2000
• INDIRECT ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS OF PARK-AND-RIDE LOTS
• LIMITED TRUCKTRAIN: A CONCEPT FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION AND TRUCK PRODUCTIVITY
• MOTOR-VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY: ESTIMATED COST AND BENEFITS FROM 1980 TO 2020
• POTENTIAL FUEL SAVINGS OF GENERAL-FREIGHT CARRIERS OPERATING UNDER BRIDGE FORMULA B GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS
• SIMULATION FOR ESTIMATING THE IMPACT OF SUPPLY RESTRICTION POLICIES ON GASOLINE CONSUMPTION
• SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME FUEL CONSERVATION MEASURES
• TRANSIT USE AND ENERGY CRISES: EXPERIENCE AND POSSIBILITIES
• TRENDS IN ENERGY USE AND FUEL EFFICIENCY IN THE U.S. COMMERCIAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY