Methanol — the Fuel in Waiting
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on October 30th, 2014 11:08 pm by HL
Methanol — the Fuel in Waiting
William Tucker, RealClearPolitics
The fourth in a series of articles this week on energy innovation and the American economy. Methanol is a bit of a mystery. It is the simplest form of hydrocarbon, one oxygen atom attached to a simple methane molecule. Therefore it burns. It is manufactured in small quantities, but production could be ramped up at any time. It’s the fuel that would make the best and most convenient substitute for gasoline in automobiles and small trucks. It has about two-thirds the energy value of gasoline, but its high octane rating pushes this up above 70 percent. It is a liquid at room temperature…