Moreover, today's distribution system can be adjusted in a cost-effective way to accommodate methanol, including the future option of production from renewables. It has the added bonus of being able to manage emissions, such as CO2 centrally, rather than at each individual tail pipe.
Methanol is also a highly practical source of hydrogen.
This low level is due to the inherently better energy conversion efficiency of the fuel cell, and also in part because methanol contains relatively less carbon per unit of chemical energy than petrol. We use it because it's safer. It greatly reduces the risk of fire. FC5 is the first prototype vehicle shown using the Ballard Mark 900 Series Fuel Cell Power Module. The integration of the fuel cell module into a methanol-fueled vehicle without compromising passenger or cargo space reflects dbb's advances in methanol reforming technology and Ballard's significant progress in reducing the size and weight of the fuel cell stack.