Abstract

The presentation takes the form of a review of CO2 output by vehicle manufacturer and their likelihood of meeting upcoming CO2 targets, then discusses hydrogen as a means of reducing anthropogenic CO2 , together with the not inconsiderable challenges that this represents particularly in respect of storage and distribution. It then reviews renewable alcohol fuels as an alternative, before discussing a methanol-based energy economy as a long-term alternative to the hydrogen economy. A novel means of producing methanol which reduces atmospheric levels of CO2 is then discussed. Finally, what we think of as a fully joined-up approach to implementation is put forward – gasoline to flex-fuel gasoline/ethanol to the introduction of methanol which can all go into a single fuel tank in the vehicle. This approach bypasses any massive design changes in the fuel system for road vehicles as well as keeping the distribution and supply side similar to that which is used at the moment with gasoline.