The European Commission's top technical body, the Joint Research Centre, has concluded that Honeywell's new low-global-warming-potential mobile air conditioning refrigerant, HFO-1234yf, is safe for use in automobiles, marking the final word in a thorough and inclusive evaluation process.
"A scientific review of the research regarding the safety aspects of the use of refrigerant R1234yf in Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) systems concludes that there is no evidence of a serious risk in the use of this refrigerant in MAC systems under normal and foreseeable conditions of use," the European Commission said in statement this week.
The JRC issued a 17-page report supporting its conclusions after a three-month evaluation during which it thoroughly reviewed the extensive testing done by a range of leading automakers as well as the world's foremost automotive engineering body, SAE International, and independent test agencies.
Honeywell Fluorine Products vice president and general manager, Ken Gayer said the report leaves no doubt that HFO-1234yf is safe for automotive applications.
"We continue to see strong adoption by global automakers of this new refrigerant as they work to meet new environmental regulation, especially in Europe, and are investing in production capacity to ensure adequate supply," he said.
HFO-1234yf, is a replacement for HFC-134a, which is currently being used by more than 500,000 automobiles. By the end of 2014 this figure will grow to more than two million.
HFO-1234yf is being adopted by automakers to meet the European Union's Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) Directive, which aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of air-conditioning systems in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
As reconfirmed last month by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), HFO-1234yf has a global warming potential of less than 1, which is even lower than that of carbon dioxide.
This GWP is 99.9 percent lower than that of HFC-134a with a GWP of 1,300, which makes it an especially potent greenhouse gas. The JRC began its extensive evaluation on HFO-1234yf in October 2013 at the request of The Directorate General for Enterprise to conclusively determine the safety of the refrigerant.
In late 2012 Daimler raised questions about the refrigerant's safety due to its mild flammability. Last year, SAE International, the world's leading automotive engineering organization, concluded that the refrigerant was safe after completing an expanded and extensive evaluation.
Those conclusions were backed by 10 global automakers who took part in the SAE Cooperative Research Project, including Chrysler/Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, PSA, Renault and Toyota. However, Daimler has rejected the SAE findings and as a result of its safety concerns is developing its own alternative.
