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Fuel cell vehicles reforming hydrogen carrier fuels (such as
methanol) on board emit just miniscule amounts of the principal
pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic
compounds) regulated by the Clean Air Act. FCV also have the
potential to greatly reduce green house gasses such as carbon
dioxide and methane. Assuming a global fleet of 40 million
methanol FCVs by 2020, and average annual mileage of 12,000
miles per vehicle, the annual carbon dioxide emissions reduction
would reach 104 million metric tons.
Unlike oil which must delivered with tankers that can be (and have in
fact been) targets for
terrorism, leak and kill a lot of marine life, methanol can
be produced in sufficient amounts in the U.S., reducing the need for ocean transport
of toxic chemicals. Beyond that, methanol is an easily
biodegradable substance. In the event of a
spill in the ocean, it is much less toxic to marine life than crude
oil or gasoline (the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
concluded methanol is essentially non-toxic to the four fish species
it tested.) In the event of a leak from an underground storage
tank, methanol is expected to swiftly biodegrade. Gasoline and
many of its toxic components and additives, such as benzene and
MTBE, biodegrade more slowly and remain in the environment
longer. In any case, the risk of a methanol spill is greatly
reduced by the use of double walled containment tanks and leak
detection monitors.
Information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Clean Alternative Fuels - Methanol Factsheet
Chemicals in the Environment: Methanol
Further Reading
Evaluation of the Fate and Transport of Methanol in the Environment
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