Daimler refuses to use the refrigerant R1234yf. However, by deciding to continue using R134a, the Swabians would be in breach of current EU law from January 1, 2013.



The matter has actually seemed clear for a good six years: the aim of EU Directive "2006/40EG" was and is to drastically reduce emissions of substances that contribute to global warming. One of these substances is R134a, which is used in vehicle air conditioning systems, among other things. Vehicle manufacturers must therefore fill their newly homologated cars and vans (all models from January 2017) with a climate-friendly refrigerant.



While German car manufacturers in particular opted for CO2-based air conditioning technology at the time, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) suddenly switched from environmentally friendly carbon dioxide to the new R1234yf. An air conditioning chemical from the two US companies Honeywell and Dupont. The reason: the supposedly cheaper alternative R1234yf can also be used in existing air conditioning systems without technical modifications. However, the new refrigerant also has disadvantages compared to R134a, such as being easier to ignite. However, numerous studies in recent years have shown that this was "controllable" in the event of an accident in which the gas comes into contact with hot engine parts, for example.



At the end of September, Daimler then shocked the public with a "real-life" test that claims to have refuted all previously known findings in this regard. The Stuttgart-based company therefore announced that it would not be equipping its vehicles with R1234yf from 2013 onwards. Daimler is thus unsettling the entire automotive industry, casting massive doubt on the safety of the new refrigerant and also ignoring applicable EU law. The exemption is only valid until the end of 2012, after which a refrigerant with a so-called GWP value of less than 150 must be used. Private associations, state environmental authorities, the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the German parliament and representatives of car manufacturers and their importers are now faced with a huge dilemma and are desperately looking for a solution. There are already losers in this automotive tragedy and the delayed use of R1234yf: as is so often the case, it is the environment.



You can find a detailed report in issue 49 of "kfz-betrieb". A reading copy, in print or as a digital ePaper, can be ordered here: gunther.schunk@vogel.de



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