Geely doubles down on methanol, says lithium EVs too heavy for future transport
At the 2026 China Smart Electric Vehicle Development Forum, Geely chairman Li Shufu said lithium battery-electric vehicles can weigh twice as much as comparable methanol-powered vehicles, underscoring the company’s continued focus on methanol as an alternative energy pathway, according to Autohome.
Policy backing expands
Li referenced a series of recent Chinese policy initiatives supporting alternative fuels beyond battery electric vehicles. These include the July 2024 guideline on accelerating a comprehensive green economic transition, which highlights infrastructure for charging, battery swapping, hydrogen, and methanol.
In October 2024, six government departments jointly issued guidance encouraging the development of integrated renewable energy bases combining wind, solar, hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. According to Li, these policies signal the start of large-scale domestic substitution in China’s energy sector.
Weight and energy density debate
Li said methanol offers significantly higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries, describing it as “more than ten times higher.” Based on this, he argued that methanol-fueled vehicles can achieve similar transport capacity while weighing roughly half as much as battery-electric vehicles.
He linked higher vehicle mass in lithium EVs to increased energy consumption, particularly in heavy-duty transport scenarios. While noting that battery electric vehicles have already achieved large-scale adoption in China, he said the weight factor leaves room for alternative solutions.
Long-term methanol push
Geely has pursued methanol vehicle technology for over two decades. China’s first official methanol vehicle pilot program began in 2012 under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, followed by a national evaluation and expansion phase.
In 2019, eight central government bodies jointly issued guidance promoting the use of methanol-fueled vehicles in suitable regions. According to the forum presentation, 39 cities across 20 provincial-level regions have since introduced more than 80 policy measures supporting methanol vehicles.
Scaling into real-world applications
Geely’s methanol strategy is also extending into production vehicles and motorsport. A recent filing showed a methanol plug-in hybrid variant of the Galaxy Starshine 6 sedan, equipped with a 1.5-litre engine rated at 93 kW. The model reflects how methanol is being integrated into passenger vehicle platforms.
In parallel, Geely has expanded testing into racing applications. The company previously launched a methanol motorsport program after winter testing, with an engine described as “fully compatible with M100 methanol fuel,” targeting performance validation under extreme conditions.
Focus on heavy transport
Li positioned methanol vehicles primarily as a solution for commercial and heavy-duty transport, where weight, lifecycle cost, and emissions are critical factors.
He said methanol vehicles offer advantages in full lifecycle carbon reduction and operational economics in these segments, particularly when combined with renewable methanol production pathways.
Export growth
Geely also disclosed updated export targets during the same forum. Yang Xueliang, senior vice president of Geely Holding Group, said the company exported more than 200,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, up 126% year-on-year, with new energy vehicles accounting for a significant share. He added that Geely has raised its full-year export target from 640,000 units to 750,000 units.
