R1234yf in 7 million cars by 2016
6th October 2014
USA: Refrigerant manufacturer DuPont expects to see the low GWP replacement R1234yf in 7 million car air conditioning systems by the end of next year.
While the new refrigerant continues to attract negative press in Germany, where Daimler is refusing to use the new gas on safety grounds, according to DuPont the rest of the global car market is adopting the new refrigerant.
“DuPont continues to see rapid transition to HFO1234yf refrigerant for automotive air conditioning, and we expect to see the refrigerant in 3 million cars by the end of 2014, with that number growing to 7 million by the end of 2015,” said DuPont Fluorochemicals’ global business director Kathryn K McCord.
Pointing out that all but one of the world’s leading automakers are adopting HFO1234yf, she said: “Action to adopt this more sustainable refrigerant has been reinforced recently by European Commission action to enforce the Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) Directive and by a US Environmental Protection Agency proposal that would limit the use of R134a in automotive air conditioning.”
DuPont says ready to supply R1234yf to both automakers and the service industry in the USA and Europe from sites in China and Japan.
“We have sufficient supply to meet our customers’ projected demand, and are prepared to make additional investments when long-term demand justifies it,” said McCord.
“DuPont has put in place aftermarket distribution capabilities in 40 countries in Europe, the Middle-East and Africa, and across the United States. Service equipment for use in handling this product is commercially available, and aftermarket service capability is developing in new countries as vehicles containing HFO1234yf go to market there.
“An extensive distribution network and the availability of equipment enable automakers to adopt this product to comply with the MAC Directive in Europe and to take advantage of greenhouse gas credits in the United States.
Taking a swipe at Daimler, which is looking to develop systems using CO2, Kathryn K McCord said: “While CO2 also was proposed as a low GWP automotive refrigerant, it has been 25 years since the first patent was issued for this technology, yet all indications from the automotive industry are that commercialisation of this technology would occur well into the future. CO2 has low energy efficiency in warm climates, potential for passenger asphyxiation in the event of leaks, and requires a high pressure system that adds weight and size, presenting problems for small car designs, and reportedly, greatly increasing the costs of automotive air conditioning.”
The industry was moving decidedly toward R1234yf, she said, “because it offers a range of advantages, including cooling power, energy efficiency, safety, materials compatibility, sustainability and total systems cost effectiveness.”
Related news:
EC orders Germany to stop using R134a – September 25, 2014
BRUSSELS: The EC has told Germany it must enforce the MAC Directive and stop German manufacturers using R134a in new car air conditioning systems. Read more…
Industry scorns new R1234yf toxicity claims – 9th April, 2014
USA and GERMANY: The bickering over R1234yf continues with German chemists making new toxicity claims and US engineers and Honeywell reaffirming its safety. Read more…
SAE challenges 1234yf fire tests – 19th February, 2014
BRUSSELS: The automotive engineers body SAE International has challenged claims by the German environmental group DUH that R1234yf produces dangerous levels of toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF). Read more…
EC issues proceedings against Germany – 23rd January, 2014
BELGIUM: As expected, the European Commission has issued an infringement notice against Germany for failing to enforce the MAC directive. Read more…
