Aqueous-phase reforming of ethylene glycol for hydrogen generation was investigated over Ni, Fe, NiFe, and NiFeCo catalysts. The effect of the reduction temperature of the NiFeCo alloy catalyst was studied. The NiFe alloy catalyst showed higher catalytic activity than Ni and Fe monocatalysts as a result of their respective functions. Co addition could further enhance the performance of the NiFe alloy catalyst to a much higher level, with ethylene glycol conversion of 95.13% and H-2 selectivity of 99.79% achieved under an optimized reduction temperature. The NiFeCo catalyst showed significant catalytic performance under reduction temperatures as low as 300 degrees C as a result of the formation of metallic Ni, Fe3O4, and Co species, while the highest catalytic activity was obtained under a reduction temperature of 660 degrees C, where almost all metal species in the NiFeCo catalyst were reduced to the metallic phase. It was suggested that Ni played a core role for ethylene glycol conversion, Fe helped to enhance the water-gas shift reaction, and Co helped to enhance ethylene glycol adsorption as well as inhibit hydrogen adsorption on the catalyst surface. Active metal oxidation and leaching seemed to be important factors that affect the stability of the NiFeCo catalyst during aqueous-phase reforming of ethylene glycol.