Technical Paper
The History of M100 Methanol Vehicles Penetration in Japan
2000-03-06
2000-01-1216
This paper describes the history of promotional activities in Japan for neat methanol fuel (M100) vehicles. Since the middle of the 1980s, Nippon Methanol Fueled Vehicles Co., Ltd. (now, Organization for the Promotion of Low Emission Vehicles (LEVO)), has been leasing M100 vehicles, and has conducted research work regarding these vehicles. LEVO has also been involved in infrastructure promotion for M100 vehicles, to ensure energy security and as a countermeasure against air pollution. As a result, as of March 1999, a total of 572 M100 vehicles had been leased to fleet operators. This more than 10 years of market experience with these vehicles has contributed toward convincing the Japanese Government, local governments and fleet operators of methanol's potential as an automotive fuel.
