Methanol economy advantages compared to a hydrogen economy:
* Efficient energy storage by volume, as compared with compressed hydrogen. When hydrogen pressure-confinement vessel is taken into account, an advantage in energy storage by weight can also be realized. The volumetric energy density of methanol is considerably higher than liquid hydrogen, in part because of the low density of liquid hydrogen of 71 grams/litre. Hence there is actually more hydrogen in a litre of methanol (99 grams/litre) than in a litre of liquid hydrogen, and methanol needs no cryogenic container maintained at a temperature of -253 °C .
* A liquid hydrogen infrastructure would be prohibitively expensive. Methanol can use existing gasoline infrastructure with only limited modifications.
* Can be blended with gasoline (for example in M85, a mixture containing 85% methanol and 15% gasoline).
* User friendly. Hydrogen is volatile, and its confinements uses high pressure or cryogenic systems.
* Less losses : Hydrogen leaks more easily than methanol. Heat will evaporate liquid hydrogen, giving expected losses up to 0.3% per day in storage tanks. (see [http://www.chart-ferox.com/getattachment/37f20eca-f9ee-4eaa-88c7-0f373e93f8ca/VT_FULL_EN.aspx Chart Ferox storage tanks Liquid oxygen]).