PtRu/C and PtSn/C electrocatalysts were prepared by the alcohol-reduction process with different atomic ratios. The electrocatalysts were characterized by EDAX, XRD, TEM and cyclic voltammetry and the electro-oxidation of ethylene glycol was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry using the thin porous coating technique. PtRu/C and PtSn/C electrocatalysts were found to be active for ethylene glycol oxidation, which starts at lower potentials by increasing the ruthenium and tin content. In the region of interest for direct alcohol fuel cell applications PtSn/C electrocatalysts were more active than PtRu/C electrocatalysts.