Metals supplier Corus has announced that it has won a contract to supply Ford with its advanced Neotec steel for Ka and StreetKa fuel tanks.
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Launched to the automotive market earlier this year, the new lead-free metallic-coated steel has been developed specifically to help vehicle manufacturers meet future environmental legislation that requires emission-free fuel tanks and sets recycling targets for vehicles at the end of their life.
One of the major drivers behind the carmaker’s decision to switch to Neotec has been the European End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) directive, which from July this year requires vehicle manufactures to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from vehicle components.
The directive also dictates ELV material recovery or re-use rates of over 85% of the whole vehicle from 2006 and over 95% from 2015. Neotec, which is fully recyclable, will help vehicle manufacturers meet these stringent recycling requirements.
Another major driver that has implications for all carmakers is legislation such as the Californian Partial Zero Emission Vehicle legislation (PZEV) requiring vehicles to have zero fuel evaporative emissions. Corus anticipates that as other American states and automotive markets, including Europe, adopt similar legislation so vehicle manufactures will come under increasing pressure to develop an alternative to the plastic fuel tank. Even adapted plastic fuel tanks designed to reduce permeation will struggle to meet PZEV legislation and moreover will significantly increase manufacturing costs, Corus claims.
