00483824

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1988/1175/1175-002.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...ling&publication_year=1988

Despite state policies aimed at reducing high levels of petroleum dependency and air pollution, California relies primarily on petroleum fuels for transportation. As an alternative to petroleum-based fuels, methanol has become increasingly important because of its potential for improving energy security and air quality. A growing body of evidence also suggests that methanol could serve as a toxic substance control by displacing benzene in gasoline. In light of these findings, recent governmental and private-sector activities have been focused on methanol, creating a momentum that has substantially improved the prospects of this fuel for use in the transportation sector. Because this momentum could lead to greater demand for methanol fuel, questions of methanol supply, demand, and availability must be addressed. The staff of the California Energy Commission has recently begun a comprehensive evaluation of the near- and long-term supply of methanol to the state. The objective of this effort is to project the available supply and corresponding price of methanol for transportation use. In this paper findings of studies to date are summarized, and future research needs, as California moves into the 1990s, are described. Although much of this analysis remains preliminary, it can be concluded that methanol has the potential to become a cost-competitive alternative to gasoline in the California transportation sector.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1175, Fuels. 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

01416523

p. 15-22

1988

Transportation Research Record

0309047129

Figures (3) ; References (30) ; Tables (6)

Alternate fuels; Demand; Fuels; Methanol; Prices; Supply

Availability; Fuel prices; Supply and demand

California

Energy; Highways; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

May 31 1990 12:00AM

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