Volkswagen, Daimler, Audi, BMW and Porsche have announced plans to develop CO2 technology as a more climate-friendly refrigerant for air conditioning systems.
VW says CO2 as a refrigerant has lower greenhouse gas effects than conventional refrigerants, with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) value of 1, or 99.3 per cent below the European Union-specified GWP limit of 150.
The German automaker says the technology will be rolled out progressively over its entire vehicle fleet.
German media reported overnight that four other carmakers — Daimler, Audi, BMW and Porsche — will also switch to CO2 technology in mobile air conditioning systems.
The automakers are rejecting R-1234yf which was developed by Honeywell and DuPont as an alternative to R134a which is being phased out in the EU and eventually banned in 2017.
Late last year Daimler undertook tests with R-1234yf which raised safety concerns.
In some head-on collision test scenarios, the refrigerant burst into flames, Daimler said.
Honeywell and DuPont have defended the product, claiming R-1234yf is not flammable.
