Methanol Institute Slams Lutz and GM On Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Methanol Institute today released the following statement by John Lynn, President and CEO:

``Yesterday, General Motors unveiled its futuristic Autonomy fuel cell vehicle, committing the automaker to the use of gaseous hydrogen in fuel cell cars to be marketed sometime after 2010. GM stated it is only 'five miles' into a 'marathon race' to commercialize fuel cell vehicles. We believe other industry leaders are further ahead on a different track with a much closer finish line.

DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Toyota have all built fuel cell vehicles that are powered by liquid methanol. These cars are being demonstrated on the road today, rather than languishing on a designer's drawing board. In a few weeks, the California Fuel Cell Partnership will open a methanol fueling station at its headquarters in Sacramento, providing a real-world proving ground for methanol fuel cell vehicles.

Unlike hydrogen fueling stations, which cost well over $1 million, a methanol storage tank and pump can be installed for just $62,400. For an investment of $2.7 billion, methanol pumps could be added to one-quarter of the nation's 175,000 corner service stations. When you consider that the refining industry in the U.S. spent more than $12 billion to retool for the refining of reformulated gasoline, this level of investment is quite reasonable. For the consumer, the only change required from switching to methanol would be paying less at the pump.

The demise of the battery-powered electric vehicle is a stark example of why the success of advanced automotive technologies is dependent on the ability to match consumer preferences.

American drivers demand that their cars have a 300-mile range. Battery EVs couldn't come close, and neither will fuel cell cars that rely on storing hydrogen as a compressed gas. By using liquid methanol as a hydrogen carrier, drivers will get all the range and performance they've come to expect.

You have methanol in the car you drive right now. We just color it blue and call it windshield washer fluid. When DaimlerChrysler puts its methanol- fueled NECAR 5 in a dealer showroom in a couple of years, GM may be seeing green.``

The Methanol Institute serves as the trade association for the global methanol industry