Geely Emgrand takes part in green e-methanol fuel and methanol vehicle trial

MANILA: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group announced that it has partnered with Circle K Denmark, Aalborg University, and Fonden Green Hub Denmark on a 15-month test and demonstration trial for green e-methanol fuel and methanol vehicles in Denmark — in support of the Danish initiative to promote the production and development of green e-methanol. Danish Minister of Transport Trine Bramsen Aalborg, municipal government members, and European media were invited to see the first test runs of Geely methanol vehicles on Danish roads and visit the Aalborg University e-methanol production facility.

As part of the long-term trial, Geely has offered two Emgrand methanol sedans and the world's first M100 heavy truck to Danish partners. The demonstration trial will help promote green e-methanol and green mobility in Europe, as well as prepare the EU for the safe adoption of e-methanol fuel.

Denmark has been a global pioneer in sustainability, pledging to cut carbon emissions by 70% by 2030. While the country is one of the world's leading suppliers of renewable energy such as wind and solar, it faces the challenge of renewable energy being weather-dependent and subject to fluctuations. Green e-methanol is an ideal solution for Denmark to collect and store renewable energy, sustain its national power grid, and provide a sustainable carbon neutral renewable fuel through Power to X (PTX), the conversion of renewable energy to other usable forms.

Danish shipping firm Maersk has already established the use of green methanol for commercial shipping. Denmark has built a robust infrastructure basis for the production, storage, and transportation of green e-methanol, which will be used as a maritime fuel. Denmark is the best choice in the EU for testing and demonstration of methanol cars.

Geely is the world's biggest manufacturer of methanol cars. It has already passed the stringent "China VI" emissions standards with its Emgrand methanol sedan and Farizon M100 heavy truck. Compared to gasoline vehicles, Geely's methanol vehicles produce 70% less CO2 emissions.

In previous demonstration trials in Iceland, Emgrand methanol sedans produced average well-to-wheel emissions of 46 g CO2 per km, which was even lower than electric vehicles in most countries. In the future, Geely methanol vehicles will be certified by the EU and be marketed to other European markets, helping to accelerate the company's aim of carbon neutrality.

For more than 17 years, Geely has been producing methanol vehicles and green methanol technology. Over  20 methanol vehicles have been introduced, and the company has 256 patents for methanol technologies. In 2016, Geely invested in Carbon Recycling International (CRI), a company that reconstructs green e-methanol on a large scale using renewable energy and carbon capture. CRI's technology has been supported by Geely to enter the Chinese market, cutting the cost of green e-methanol and speeding up the worldwide objective of carbon neutrality.

Methanol and electric vehicles are two potent instruments in the quest to achieve carbon neutrality. Both have their own strengths, and they work well together. Green methanol is currently available, methanol infrastructure can be constructed rapidly and at a low cost, and using green e-methanol reduces carbon emissions instantly. Addressing climate change is a shared duty, and Geely believes in both green e-methanol and pure electric mobility.

Photos from Zhejiang Geely Holding Group

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