Alternative fuels competition with gasoline

The key words to the future of methanol/gasoline blends for automotive use are need and availability. Technically, the operation of methanol/gasoline blends in automotive engines is feasible with some associated problems. Economically, methanol is not yet competitive with gasoline produced from petroleum, hence the need has not been strongly established. Since the need or market is not established, the capital expenses involved in producing methanol from coal or garbage are not presently justified. However, if 40-60% of the crude oil used in the U.S. to produce petroleum products should suddenly become unavailable, the need would be very real. The necessity of compete evaluation of methanol and other alternate fuels is evident. 

Most alternative fuel vehicles on the road today were originally designed for gasoline, hut converted for use with an alternative fuel. Because the petroleum industry has successfully responded to the competitive threats of alternative fuels by developing reformulated gasolines that burn much cleaner, the... 

A combination of available alternative fuels will evolve with the most likely choices affected by a number of technical, political and market factors. In order to allow a wider application of alternative fuels, a number of obstacles have to be overcome. These include economic, technological, and infrastructural issues. In the past, gasoline has been plentiful and has had a significant price advantage compared to other fuels. This could change quickly and alternative fuels would need to become more commonplace. One of the alternatives involves the more widespread use of biomass produced fuels. More efficient biomass conversion techniques would help make biofuels more cost-competitive. 

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