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Both for air quality and energy security reasons, a great deal of attention is currently being given to methanol as a candidate to complement petroleum to meet future transportation fuel needs. It is important that safety considerations also be taken into account when analyzing the appropriateness of alternative fuels such as methanol for use in the transportation sector. The current fire safety risk with gasoline is substantial: 216,000 fires resulting in 1,000 fatalities, 7,600 serious injuries, and $430 million in property damage. Due to the lower volatility and higher flammable limit of methanol, pure methanol (M100) is projected to result in as much as a 90 percent reduction in the number of automotive fuel related fires relative to gasoline. A smaller but significant reduction of 40 percent is projected for M85, a blend of 85 percent methanol and gasoline.

An analysis of the potential Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) impacts of the commingling of ethanol fuels with non-ethanol fuels has been done. This analysis includes a computer model that tracks such variables as owner brand loyalty, fill-up patterns, ethanol fuel market share and percent ethanol in the fuel tank to determine the RVP boost that is associated with the use of ethanol as a gasoline oxygenate as it intermingles with non-ethanol fuels in vehicle fuel tanks. Results indicate that the use of ethanol oxygenated fuels can cause, in some cases, a significant increase in gasoline RVP, thus leading to higher evaporative emissions.

This paper describes the flammability and human toxicity concerns of pure methanol (M100) and an 85 percent methanol/15 percent gasoline blend (M85). These safety characteristics of M100 and M85 are compared with each other, as well as with those of diesel fuel and gasoline. Discussion focuses on data which are available, as well as on more subjective evaluations based on fuel properties since in use information is often limited. A complete assessment of fuel safety should also take into account the emissions impacts of these fuels, but this discussion is not included here as it is covered in considerable detail in other reports published by EPA authors.(1,2,3,4)*