We demonstrate herein two important features of a Pd87Cu13/C electrocatalyst that indicate it is a more efficient catalyst in alkaline media than Pd/C for the electrochemical oxidation of three polyalcohols: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol. First, we have discovered more efficient behavior in a three electrode electrochemical cell, where the electrochemical oxidation rate of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol was 4 times faster on Pd87Cu13/C than Pd/C. In glycerol, the oxidation rate was 3 times faster in the electrochemical cell. This increase in oxidation rate is due to a combination of the electronic and bifunctional effects. Second, we have found that the Pd87Cu13/C catalyst is also more efficient than Pd/C in an operating alkaline direct liquid fuel cell, although the efficiency gains are smaller than the electrochemical cell. During fuel cell testing, we found that the maximum power density of a propylene glycol fuel cell was 86% greater when the anode catalyst was Pd Cu/C compared with Pd/C. The maximum power densities of the glycerol and ethylene glycol fuel cells increased by 75% and 32%, respectively. These polyalcohol molecules are of significant interest because they can be made from renewable sources and used to produce power in alkaline direct liquid fuel cells. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.