Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks Discusses Lightweight Fuel Tanks at ITB Conference

DETROIT, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To demonstrate effective, low mass designs for steel-intensive fuel tanks of future vehicles, representatives from the Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT) presented "An Approach for Developing Lightweight Steel Tanks for Advanced Hybrid Electric Vehicles" at the ITB Group's Automotive Energy Storage and Fuel Systems conference today in Novi, Mich.

David Anderson of the Steel Market Development Institute, and Danet Surytama of EDAG Inc., discussed the benefits of steel fuel tanks and the design optimization methodology used to support the global lightweighting project called FutureSteelVehicle (FSV), a WorldAutoSteel program.  FSV aims to develop lightweight advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) body structures to reduce emissions over the total vehicle life cycle.  The FSV project will officially release fully engineered, steel-intensive designs of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle designs in May 2011 to demonstrate steel's environmental benefits.

"Steel fuel tanks provide cost-effective, lightweight, zero emissions solutions for advanced hybrid vehicles," Anderson said. "According to results of the SASFT project, AHSS reduces the mass and thickness of steel tanks of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, while also providing the necessary rigidity to handle the pressure-vacuum requirements of today's standards.  For pressurized fuel tank applications, steel's superior strength, stiffness and design flexibility are unmatched by any other fuel tank material."

The two-day ITB event featured technologies to meet LEV III requirements with alcohol containing fuels, fuel tanks, lines and vapor management systems.  Other conference highlights included legislative developments and alternative energy storage systems for renewable fuels, electricity and hydrogen.

In addition to presenting at the conference, SASFT highlighted benefits of the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Highlander steel fuel tanks at its exhibit. To download a copy of Anderson and Surytama's presentation, visit www.sasft.org.

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new-growth opportunities in emerging steel markets.  For more news or information, visit www.smdisteel.org.

The Strategic Alliance for Fuel Tanks (SASFT) is an international alliance of companies specializing in the various areas of fuel tank production possessing a common interest in the development, optimization and application of steel fuel tanks for automobiles.  SASFT was organized by the American Iron and Steel Institute in 2000 to bring together the diverse business disciplines involved in designing, manufacturing and supplying steel fuel tanks in the automotive market.  For more information on SASFT, please visit www.sasft.org.

Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tank Members:

SOURCE Steel Market Development Institute