ACtion Magazine - November/December 2012 - (Page 24)

The bumpy road to R-1234yf W hen the European Commission (EC) enacted their rules for new vehicles under Directive 2006/40/EC, refrigerant 134a was to begin an eventual phase-out. Any company selling light vehicles in the European market needed to begin using refrigerants with global warming potential (GWP) under 150 in any all-new vehicles from model year 2011. By 2017, all new cars would be using new gases and today’s chemicals would phase out over time. The Commission didn’t specify any particular substitute, but simply required that whatever refrigerant was chosen by manufacturers be under the GWP 150 limit. After years of prototyping, safety testing and cost evaluation, the OEMs seemed to have settled on R-1234yf as the best alternative in view of all the variables. The mild flammability of the new chemical was acknowledged—shops work with other flammables all the time—and the product underwent extensive specific testing and lab analysis around the world. Governments and professional engineering bodies found that it could be used safely if reasonable precautions were taken, and the U.S. EPA ultimately added it to the SNAP list for use in systems specifically designed for it. Although not required by law in North America, car makers can pick up some mpg credits for vehicles using a less polluting refrigerant so the choice was important here as well as for the Euro market. Once the industry preference was decided, component and tool suppliers, service trainers and everybody else moved 24 ACTION • November/December 2012 into action to support the replacement refrigerant. Many product suppliers had to scramble to meet the relatively short lead time to get their products approved by the various OEMs who would use them as “factory tools” in dealerships and training facilities. The U.S. aftermarket waited to see which car makers would choose to use the new gas here, but today, mostly everybody is still waiting. In spite of their announced plans, only a few cars are now available with the chosen replacement here (Cadillac XTS, Fit EV in California) and abroad (Subaru XV, Hyundai i30 and ix45, and a few Mercedes-Benz SL models) but not nearly as many as anticipated. Some cars and trucks from the Euro market were rumored to appear here within a year as well (Ford’s Transit Connect, Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Kia Forte, Subaru’s XV Crosstrek), and almost every carmaker selling in Europe has said they will make the transition within a few model years. In the U.S., a prominent supplier recently surveyed the truck manufacturers and found “… that they have made no decision either way on this refrigerant – they are currently watching the adoption by the automotive industry. In essence, they are not planning any change to this unless there is a legal or commercial requirement to do so. If there would be green points for making the change, or an economical penalty for not making the change, then they would look differently at the adoption.”

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - November/December 2012

ACtion Magazine - November/December 2012
Contents
Outlook
Expansion Valve
Leonard’s Law
Under the Southern Cross
News & Updates
Meeting the Need
See the Best of the Best
The Bumpy Road to R-1234yf
Virtual View
Association News
Obituary
Quick Check
New Products & Services
Last Watch

ACtion Magazine - November/December 2012