The society is concerned about Solvay's all-plastic automotive engine project.

The Polimotor2 is a four-cylinder double-top CAM engine that will be piloted on a racing car next year and will eventually be installed on the NormaM-20 concept car in 2016 for a race in LimeRock Park, Connecticut.

The project is reducing the weight of today's standard production engines (138-148 pounds, usually made entirely of metal, the heaviest individual component of the entire car) to 40% (81 pounds).

Solvay's high-performance thermoplastics will replace up to 10 metal engine components, including pumps, oil pumps, water inlets/outlets, throttle bodies, petrol manifolds, and cam sprockets.

Solvay told reporters on May 18: "There has not been a car OEM or a level supplier to sign up as a sponsor or partner, and the technology has not yet been applied to commercial vehicle design."

However, Solvay pointed out that the cooperation project will bring "intelligent engine reduction and re-selection to automotive OEMs, ultimately reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions." Solvay said it played in the success of the first plastic engine Polimotor. Importantly, the engine was designed by American engineer Matti Holtzberg in the early 1980s. Also on May 18th, Solvay executives participated in Chinaplas Media Day, introducing the company's latest developments in investment and expansion in China and Asia Pacific.