The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 in methanol-based electrolyte was investigated with zinc particle-pressed electrodes. In order to evaluate the characteristic of copper oxide catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 , zinc particles mixed with CuO and Cu 2 O powders were pressed for fabricating a disk plate of electrode. Without copper oxide particles, only formic acid and carbon monoxide were formed in the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 , and the formation of hydrocarbons could scarcely be observed. On the other hand, hydrocarbons were obtained for the zinc particle-pressed electrodes containing copper oxide particles. At CuO/Zn particle-pressed electrode, the Faradic efficiency of ethylene was better relative to that of methane at all conditions tested. With Cu 2 O/Zn powder-pressed electrode, the current efficiency of methane was larger compared with that of ethylene in the low content range of Cu 2 O (1–2.5%). The maximum formation efficiencies of methane and ethylene were of 7.5% and 6.8% with the electrode consisted of Cu 2 O/Zn, respectively. It was found that copper oxide catalysts (CuO and Cu 2 O) were effective for the formation of hydrocarbons, especially ethylene, in the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 in methanol-based electrolyte.