FIRST RENEWABLE METHANOL FUEL STATION IN THE WORLD FOR ELECTRIC CARS

A fuel pump operated by Danish petrol company OK offering a 100% blend of CRI's renewable methanol (Vulcanol) was opened in Aalborg, Denmark on August 26th. The fuel pump will serve electric vehicles fitted with methanol fuel cell range extenders provided by Danish company Serenergy. The Vulcanol is provided by Carbon Recycling International from its pioneering Emissions-to-Liquids plant in Svartsengi, Iceland.

The project in Aalborg is supported by OK, Hamag and Serenergy in collaboration with the Danish Energy Agency. An electric car with a direct methanol fuel cell range extender, transforms methanol into electricity onboard. Instead of waiting for several hours for the batteries to recharge, the driver can therefore instantly fuel the car with methanol which is produced from electricity, using CRI's innovative technology. As the methanol is produced from recycled CO₂ and energy from renewable sources, the car creates no net CO₂ emissions or particle emissions.

A methanol fuelled electrical car can run up to 800 kilometres on one filling, so drivers do not need to experience any 'range anxiety'. With methanol as fuel the driver can use the existing refuelling infrastructure for liquid fuels. As a result the combination of an electric vehicle and methanol fuel cell provides short refuelling time and unlimited range.

In addition to CRI's CO₂ to methanol technology, methanol can be produced from a wide range of feedstock, from natural gas, any type of waste biomass or undifferentiated municipal waste. Methanol can be used in gasoline engines, as feedstock for diesel-like fuels and in fuel cells. Methanol is therefore an existing and a realistic complement and replacement of gasoline and diesel.