Geely Chairman Li Shufu has raised significant concerns regarding the scalability of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), arguing that the excessive weight of lithium-ion batteries hinders transport efficiency. Speaking at the 2026 China Smart Electric Vehicle Development Forum on April 12, 2026, Li advocated for methanol as a superior energy alternative, claiming it could fundamentally resolve the mass-to-capacity challenges facing the industry.
The move signals a strategic diversification in China’s approach to decarbonization, moving beyond a singular reliance on electrification. According to Li, methanol offers an energy density more than ten times higher than that of lithium-ion batteries. This disparity means that methanol-powered vehicles can maintain comparable transport capacities while weighing roughly half as much as their BEV counterparts.
This weight differential is particularly critical for heavy-duty transport, where increased vehicle mass directly correlates to higher energy consumption and increased operating costs. By reducing the overall weight of the powertrain, Li asserts that methanol can provide a more sustainable pathway for long-haul and high-capacity logistics.
Geely’s push is aligned with a broader shift in Chinese national policy. Li referenced a July 2024 guideline focused on accelerating a comprehensive green economic transition, which explicitly includes the development of infrastructure for methanol alongside hydrogen, battery swapping and traditional charging. In October 2024, six government departments issued joint guidance to promote integrated renewable energy bases that combine wind and solar power with the production of ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol.
Li Shufu described these policy developments as the beginning of a “large-scale domestic substitution” within China’s energy sector, aimed at reducing dependence on traditional fuels through locally sourced, diversified alternatives. This strategic pivot underscores the growing recognition that a multi-fuel approach may be necessary to achieve comprehensive transport decarbonization.
For Geely, this is not a novel direction but the culmination of a long-term technical pursuit. The company has invested in methanol vehicle technology for over two decades, following a trajectory that began with China’s first official methanol vehicle pilot program in 2012, launched under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The ongoing debate over energy density and vehicle mass highlights the complex trade-offs manufacturers face as they navigate the transition to clean energy. As noted in reports regarding China’s evolving mobility transition, the integration of diverse fuels like methanol may be essential for the future of global transport infrastructure.
