Road fuel

Methanol is growing as a cleaner-burning, lower-emission road transportation fuel globally, especially in countries such as China, where there is established and growing refuelling infrastructure. It is already included in fuel standards in multiple jurisdictions, both as a blend into gasoline and as 100% methanol fuel (M100).

Methanol-powered vehicles offer a cleaner and more affordable solution that addresses the downsides of diesel engines, which emit particulate matter (soot) as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide emissions. Methanol, by comparison, is a lower-emission fuel, emitting near zero particulate matter when combusted, significantly fewer nitrogen oxide emissions and less carbon dioxide. Because conventional methanol produced from natural gas can be blended progressively with lower-carbon and green methanol without modifications to the engine, methanol is also a viable pathway fuel for the energy transition.

With a high-octane rating of around 109, compared to around 91–95 for standard petrol, methanol delivers effective, cleaner power, and as a liquid fuel, is simple and safe to store and distribute.

Proman is advancing the use of methanol as a lower-emission road transport fuel through an ongoing pilot in Trinidad and Tobago. This is showcasing four 100% methanol-powered trucks on the roads in the country, thanks to the collaboration with Dumore Enterprises. Proman is currently looking into further projects that include methanol-powered trucks and passenger cars, such as Mini Vans and SUV’s, while continuing to make the case for the inclusion of methanol blends into gasoline, where it is not currently included in national fuel standards. These efforts aim to showcase methanol as a practical, lower‑emission alternative transport fuel and to encourage wider global uptake.