A light, volatile alcohol eligible for gasoline blending.

Today, methanol is a commodity. Its worldwide consumption is some 50 million tons (2012) at a growth rate of 8% a year.

The advantages of methanol compared to gasoline: it is natural gas based and so reduces the dependency on crude oil, cheap, and does not required incentives and subsidies, clean – less pollutant emissions, environmental, safe – less flammable then gasoline, efficient combustion, operation, and logistics. The transportation of methanol is similar to that of gasoline, the price of methanol is 40%-45% of gasoline.

The disadvantages of methanol compared to gasoline: methanol has a low caloric value compared to gasoline, but its more efficient combustion leads, according to the literature, to a better engine salvage and to a certain compensation of the caloric value. The significant advantage of methanol in terms of price indicates that the price of a kilometer ride will be lower than fueling by gasoline and will reduce the petrol costs for the consumer.