In Dearborn, Michigan, Visteon Corporation announced what could spell a cleaner and lighter future for the automobile industry. The company is working on what it believes is an industry first - a plastic fuel tank system designed to help vehicle manufacturers meet Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standards.

ZEV standards originate in California and are tougher than America's voluntary Low Emission Vehicle program. ZEV standards permit no tailpipe emissions which is achievable with fuel cell technology. The multinational automotive supply company plans to help automobile manufacturers in reducing tailpipe emissions. Visteon is working on a plastic fuel tank system that integrates components inside the plastic tank, eliminating most of the external fuel system connections. Visteon says the fuel tank system practically eliminates hydrocarbon emissions,allowing car manufacturers to meet Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) standards. This was previously thought possible only by using a steel fuel tank.

Visteon's plastic fuel tank system offers it's customers opportunities to meet these standards and produce vehicles that are more environmentally friendly. Compared to a steel tank, the plastic fuel tank is easier to package, lighter for better fuel efficiency, cheaper for vehicle manufacturers and does not corrode.

Lightweight materials are the key to low fuel consumption and lower emissions in cars. The European Commission project hopes to produce low cost carbon composites by 2004, which will reduce a vehicle such as the Volkswagen's Lupo TDI's weight by about 40%. This reduction would improve fuel economy and reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions drastically. This research project is a joint effort by the car industry, research laboratories and materials producers.

Daimler Chrysler Corporation announced that it is testing plastics recycling technology that could help make the company's vehicles 95% recoverable within the next few years. Not only would the technology cut the cost of making new vehicles by millions of dollars each year, it could reduce by one third the amount of automobile waste going into landfills.