Zymomonas mobilis is one of the natural ethanologenic microbes. With the unique Entner-Doudoroff pathway and some other special pathways of glycolytic and energetic metabolism, Z. mobilis has remarkable characters of higher rate of ethanol production and higher tolerance to ethanol. Glycolytic and energetic metabolism, tolerances (e.g., to ethanol, osmotic stress, etc.) and genetic improvements of Z. mobilis are reviewed to elucidate the huge potential of Z. mobilis in fuel ethanol production.