The Federal Methanol Fleet Project, managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy, has operated methanol-fueled vehicles since 1985 in routine government fleet operations. Presently, 20 methanol vehicles of four different types are operating at three different sites alongside 14 gasoline cars in similar assignments. Over one million miles have been accumulated on fleet vehicles so far, and driver acceptance has been generally good for the methanol vehicles. Equipment varies between vehicle type, especially with regard to their systems for cold starting, and those with minimal cold-start systems have not performed as well in winter weather. Also, climate varies considerably between the three sites, and this is reflected in the comparison of cold weather performance. Accumulation of metals in the lubricating oil is at a greater rate in the methanol vehicles, and data are presented which demonstrate the dependence of these phenomena on ambient temperature. Generally, metals accumulate in the oil of the methanol vehicles at a much greater rate in colder months. 9 refs., 13 figs.


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    Federal Methanol Fleet Project final report

    B. H. West / R. N. McGill / S. L. Hillis et al. | NTIS | 1993



    The federal methanol fleet - summary of technical data

    McGill,R.N. / Graves,R.L. / West,B.H. et al. | Automotive engineering | 1991


    Results from the Federal Methanol Fleet - a progress report

    McGill,R.N. / Graves,R.L. / Oak Ridge National Lab.,US | Automotive engineering | 1988