We were once told that the future would comprise solely electric cars and that cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) would be completely outlawed. Pretty dystopian, right?
However, automakers have now slowly started to realize that such a sudden transition won’t actually be impossible. Not to mention, according to Reuters, it seems that the market has already spoken.
A select few automakers have started exploring ways to prolong the shelf life of the internal combustion engine.
Many might know of Porsche’s plans to mass produce eFuels, as well as Toyota and Mazda’s interest in alternative fuel sources. However, now there’s a new kid on the block: Geely.
The Chinese Conglomerate is Exploring Methanol
Geely is the Chinese automotive conglomerate that houses the Geely Auto brand, as well as Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Lotus, and Smart.
Some Americans have had the opportunity to experience some Geely products, as many Volvo powertrains are co-developed with Geely.
It’s been a while since Geely expressed interest in reinvigorating the ICE with alternative fuels, but now, they’re finally springing this plan into action. The company recently wrapped up testing of a race-prepped version of the Binrui Cool mid-size sedan in some harsh winter conditions. Under the hood, a diesel engine dubbed the DHE20TDM.
There’s no exact information on the engine’s size, but judging by the code name, it’s more than likely a 2.0-liter unit. Instead of diesel, the car was running on M100 methanol. The number in alcohol fuel designations indicates how much of the fuel mixture consists of said alcohol. E85 means that 85% of the mixture is ethanol, but 15% is regular gasoline.
Not only does the methanol work perfectly when applied to the engine, but it also passes China’s VI-B emissions regulations, which we’re told are very strict. Geely is also known for massive thermal efficiency figures, and this engine is no different, achieving 46% thermal efficiency. It doesn’t take hours to recharge or even several minutes to refuel as hydrogen does, for example. The company also promises great reliability, irrespective of the weather conditions.
A Methanol Race Series
Geely is absolutely convinced of the effectiveness of this methanol malarkey. So much so that the company plans to launch a one-make race series called the Geely Super Cup PRO in 2026, in which this methanol-enabled engine will power all the competing cars. Whether those race cars will be based on the Binrui Cool sedan is unclear.
Later on, Geely also plans to produce methanol fuels at an industrial scale in China, with a target annual capacity of 50,000 tons. Using this fuel in a race series is absolutely the best way for this technology to gain traction and attention.
So many innovations in the automotive world first saw their debut in motorsport. KERS and DRS systems in Formula 1, for example, eventually started trickling into road cars. Sequential manual transmissions without clutch pedals that are shifted through paddles? There’s a reason why Ferrari called it the F1 transmission, you know.
As F1 also plans to move to renewable fuels in the coming years, this is another great way for Geely to showcase the technology and prove that it works. Over time, the company sees it as a much cleaner alternative to diesel and something that would work especially well in commercial vehicles.
The Future is Looking a Little Different
Predictably, the idea of the internal combustion engine getting a new lease of life through alternative fuel sources has proven quite controversial. Many experts and automotive CEOs have either expressed skepticism or outright shut down the idea of the ICE surviving into the next decade, opting instead to focus on a fully electric lineup.
The fact that another automaker has joined the alliance of companies that believe in a future where buyers are given a choice and the internal combustion engine is made a lot greener and cleaner is huge news. Especially since this is not just any automaker. Geely is not only one of the top automakers in China but also in the world. Remember, these people own Lotus and Volvo. Who knows, maybe down the line, we’ll see a revived Volvo I5 powered by some type of alternative fuel. Seems unlikely, but it would be cool.