Chairman of China’s multinational automotive company Geely (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd.), Li Shufu, reportedly said that the firm will continue to work on methanol-powered vehicles even though this endeavor may fail.
The company is among a few automakers developing vehicles powered by methanol and is trying out methanol taxis in some western cities of China and manufacturing methanol-powered trucks at its commercial vehicles’ unit, sources cited.
Li stated Geely invested in an Icelandic firm, Carbon Recycling International, to devise methods to manufacture methanol from carbon dioxide for reducing overall carbon emissions.
They will keep pressing on methanol vehicle technologies despite the possibility that it might fail after all, but they are still working on it, he added.
As China possesses vast supplies of coal that they can convert to methanol, methanol fuel would increase the country's energy independence. Li expressed methanol automobiles will be cleaner than gasoline vehicles without elaborating much about the technology.
The Chinese automaker is also working on petrol-electric hybrid cars, battery electric vehicles, and hydrogen commercial vehicles. Besides, China is the largest auto market for developing electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
For the record, methanol and hydrogen fuel cells are a preferable option as compared to gasoline-powered automobiles. China being the world's most populous country, requires a rapid shift to electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions, and Geely seems committed to the year bringing the transition.
As per credible sources, China intends to be carbon-neutral by 2060, and several automakers are focused on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve this goal.
While major EV manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Tesla believe that hydrogen fuel cells cannot compete with battery vehicles, while some businesses, such as Geely, continue to work on methanol-powered vehicles.
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