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Air pollution caused by NOx and PM from automobiles has been a serious problem in local commercial areas of large cities. There is also growing concern about an increase in gases which cause global warming. To improve this situation, high expectations have been placed in the use of low emission vehicles to reduce single-vehicle emissions and in the introduction of local joint-distribution systems for more efficient distribution. Here, CNG vehicles were used within a regional joint-distribution system, and were tested in actual fleet operations. Investigation was made of CNG vehicle performance in terms of practical usefulness, exhaust gas emissions and fuel economy. Six CNG vehicles were used for around three years. To investigate changes in exhaust emissions, exhaust gas emission tests were performed every 5,000 km. Fleet tests were also conducted to study how the vehicles were used during the daily operation.

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.