Four 100% methanol-powered Geely trucks have been launched in Trinidad, marking what Proman and Dumore Enterprises say is the first time such vehicles have operated on roads outside China.

The Farizon G2 trucks have already been operating on public and private roads in Trinidad and Tobago since mid-July after receiving approval from the Transport Commission.

The trucks, operated by Dumore Enterprises, are being used to deliver industrial goods across the country as part of a pilot programme that will see them travel approximately 100,000 kilometres.

So far, the four trucks have travelled more than 17,000 kilometres and refuelled 41 times at Proman’s production facilities at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Couva.

They have consumed more than 20 tonnes of methanol and avoided approximately 3.7 tonnes of CO₂e emissions compared with conventional diesel trucks, according to the companies.

Proman Chief Executive David Cassidy described the launch as an important milestone for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider adoption of methanol as a fuel for road transport.

“Through our partnership with Dumore Enterprises, we are showing that methanol produced in Trinidad can power vehicles on Trinidadian roads today,” Cassidy said.

He said the pilot could help create new demand for Trinidad’s methanol while opening opportunities for wider use of the fuel across the Caribbean.

Dumore Enterprises CEO Alex Jodhan said the pilot is intended to generate practical data on the use of methanol-powered heavy vehicles.

“Transition won’t happen overnight,” Jodhan said, describing the process as a combination of risk-taking and incremental steps towards technology that can reduce environmental impact.

He said the information gathered from the trucks could help inform future policy and regulatory decisions around heavy transportation.

The pilot is also being positioned as a potential pathway for reducing reliance on diesel. Anand Ragbir, Executive Director of Proman Trinidad, said the trucks could help improve air quality, reduce diesel imports and create a new export market for Trinidad’s methanol.

Methanol has been used in road transport for decades, both as a 100% fuel and as a component in petrol blends. China currently has the world’s largest methanol vehicle fleet, with more than 30,000 vehicles.

The companies say methanol produces near-zero particulate matter when combusted, along with significantly fewer nitrogen oxide emissions and less carbon dioxide.

They also point to methanol’s high octane rating of around 109 and its liquid form, which allows it to be stored and distributed as a fuel.

However, wider use of methanol fuel in Trinidad and Tobago would require changes to national fuel standards.

While the four trucks have been approved for public-road use, the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards would need to revise the fuel standard to allow methanol blends and introduce a standard for 100% methanol fuel.

The pilot will continue as the companies assess the trucks’ performance and gather data from their operation on Trinidad and Tobago’s roads.