Recent concern for environmental problems and an eventual shortage of conventional petroleum-based fuels coupled with the potential of obtaining methyl alcohol (methanol) as a product of coal gasification has brought about an interest in the use of methanol as a fuel. In order to assess the feasibility of using methanol as a motor vehicle fuel, either alone (neat) or as a blend in gasoline-type base stocks, its performance, emission and practical use characteristics must be ascertained. To this end this report, which summarizes and evaluates past and current studies concerned with determining these characteristics, is offered. In addition, those performance, emission and practical use consideration characteristics deemed important and found to be lacking in the current technology are identified.