In the frigid northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang, Geely Auto Group, part of global vehicle major Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, brought its Methanol Hybrid Emgrand, the world’s first methanol-hybrid sedan, to test its performance in sub -40°C Arctic conditions. The new Methanol Hybrid Emgrand runs on 100 percent pure methanol (M100) widely available in filling stations across China and increasingly in other markets.
Geely’s latest Methanol Hybrid Emgrand is based on Geely Auto’s fourth-generation B-Segment Modular Architecture (BMA) Emgrand sedan.
Resolved cold start issues
The new model is the latest model from Geely’s decade-long RMB 3 billion (≈ EUR 420 million) investment into methanol vehicle development. Previous generation methanol vehicles faced difficulties with cold starts but with Geely Auto’s NordThor Power (previously called Leishen Power) hybrid technology and the latest generation methanol powertrains, issues with extreme cold environment performance have been eliminated the company says.
Combining Geely Auto’s two most sustainable and green powertrain technologies, methanol and NordThor Power hybrid technology, the Methanol Hybrid Emgrand brings to the table low operating costs and ultra-low emissions.
According to Geely, the Emgrand sedan houses a 1.8L naturally aspirated methanol engine providing 97 kW (130HP) of power and 175 Nm of max torque together with an electric motor providing 100 kW (134HP) of power and 320 Nm for a combined 272 kW (364HP) and 495 Nm of torque.
The engine and powerful e-motor are connected to a 3-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) which provides increased efficiency at low speeds by propelling the vehicle with pure electric power, ensures smooth cruising by utilizing the engine as a range-extender with e-motor powering the wheels, and provides bursts of power for high-speed overtakes with a transmission gear ratio that provides up to 4920 Nm of output torque.
Acting as a range extender at lower speeds and only sending power to the wheels at high speeds allows the 1.8L methanol engine to operate at peak efficiency and lower emissions. From 0-100 km takes 8.8 seconds and traveling 100 km consumes roughly 9 litres (WLTP) of clean methanol.
With methanol fuel price at Chinese pumps around RMB 3/L (≈ EUR 0.42/L or US$1.8 gallon), fuel costs per 100 km is roughly 27RMB 27 (≈ EUR 3.85 or US$4.28). In the face of rising global gas prices, methanol fuel offers a viable cleaner affordable alternative.
Geely Methanol Ecosystem
Geely Holding Group is said to be the largest developer and producer of methanol vehicles in the world. The Group’s subsidiary brands have produced the Geely Auto Emgrand methanol sedan whilst Geely Commercial Vehicles have produced the Farizon M100 heavy truck, both of which have passed “China VI” emissions standards.
From well-to-wheel (WtW), Geely’s methanol vehicles enable a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to gasoline models. Previous demonstration trials of non-hybrid Geely Emgrand methanol sedans in Iceland achieved average WtW well-to-wheel emissions of 46g of CO2 per km, which is lower than electric vehicles (EVs) in many countries.
Clean methanol from green and renewable sources is the most realistic and effective path to reducing emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. The advantages of methanol fuel are not theoretical and have been proven for decades in applications around the world. Methanol fuel choices offer the world a road to a greener and more sustainable future, said Eric Li, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
In the future, Geely Holding methanol vehicles will undergo EU certification and be promoted to other European markets in support of accelerating the goal of reaching carbon neutrality.
Geely Holding has invested over RMB 3 billion (≈ EUR 420 million) in developing methanol vehicles and green methanol technologies over the past 17 years. The company has launched more than 20 methanol-powered vehicle models and obtained 256 patents for methanol technologies.
In 2016, Geely Holding invested in Carbon Recycling International (CRI) which utilizes renewable energy and carbon capture to synthesize green e-methanol (Vulcanol) on an industrial scale.
Geely Holding has also helped CRI introduce its technology to the Chinese market with the world’s largest production facility of e-fuel from CO2. The Shunli plant in Anyang, Henan Province will produce 110 000 tonnes of clean methanol fuel along with other chemicals while recycling 160 000 tonnes of captured CO2.
Geely’s investment in methanol hybrid technologies and green methanol e-Fuel opens a realistic new path towards reaching global climate neutrality, the company says.
