Once a soda bottle, now a car?

Abstract

Chrysler unveiled its plastic-bodied Composite Concept Vehicle (CCV) at the Frankfurt International Auto Show last week. The recyclable polyethylene terephthalate contains 15% crushed glass fiber and additives for UV protection and to aid molding. The car is made from four panels that are glued together with polyurethane adhesive on top of a steel chassis. Whereas a conventional car has 4,000 components, CCV consists of a mere 1,100 parts and needs no paint. It takes only six-and- a-half hours to build (a Neon takes 19 hours) in one-third the space of a conventional car. At 1,200 lb— less than half the weight of a comparable metal sedan— CCV is also environmentally sound, managing 50 mpg. And the low-cost plastic panels can include up to 20% recycled resin and can themselves be recycled. Chrysler says it may have the plastic vehicle available for sale by 2000. The company is positioning the car for developing countries, where it ...