In a reimagined narrative, Li Shufu's methanol-focused approach extends beyond the lab; it becomes a more tangible reality in heavy-duty and commercial vehicles. The key message is that, in an era of increasing electric vehicle adoption, methanol, with its high energy density, can offer a significant advantage over battery-powered vehicles in high-capacity applications.
In line with China's energy policies, in addition to integrating clean energy sources such as wind and solar, hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol-based solutions are also being explored. Authorities indicate that pilot programs for these types of green liquid fuels will be open in certain regions, paving the way for their use in the transportation and logistics sectors.
Geely's approach comes at a time when electrification in passenger vehicles continues to grow. The experts argue that batteries are not the only formula for heavy-duty transport and commercial applications. They emphasize that methanol can also offer advantages in terms of life cycle emissions and operational economics.
Attention is now focused on the tangible effects of the political developments. The central green transition guidance, published in August 2024, clarified the low-carbon transition goals between energy and transportation. Subsequently, the opinion document released to the public on October 30, 2024, encourages the use of low-carbon hydrogen in ammonia and methanol production and raises the possibility of exploring integrated wind-solar-hydrogen-ammonia-methanol hubs. This document also opens the door to pilot applications of green clean liquid fuels in vehicles, ships, and aviation.
For Geely, this innovation can be seen less as a sudden change and more as a clearer manifestation of their long-standing multi-energy approach. The company's official statements indicate that five different technology paths are being evaluated; and that it has a broad portfolio of energy systems including pure electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and methanol. In the announcement where they shared their 2026 targets, the emphasis is on an "advanced multi-energy strategy."
According to shared data, 39 cities in 20 prefectural regions of China have implemented more than 80 policy measures supporting methanol vehicles. This shows that Geely does not see methanol merely as a laboratory alternative; it positions it as a scalable solution under specific conditions.
