The future of HFO-1234yf remains in doubt with two of Germany’s biggest carmakers – Daimler and Volkswagen AG – declining to use the new refrigerant.
Jointly developed by DuPont and Honeywell, the refrigerant is expected to generate billions of dollars in sales. It was developed to cut the global warming potential of mobile air conditioning systems.
Honeywell is expecting $1.5 billion in revenue from the chemical over five years, while DuPont told investors in 2011 revenue from the refrigerant will climb 50 per cent annually for five years.
However, the future of the refrigerant remains in doubt with Daimler already confirming it won’t use HFO-1234yf.
Daimler is also recalling Mercedes Benz cars that contain the product, defying a January 1, 2013 EU deadline to use the refrigerant in all new models.
The EU directive to use 1234yf applies to all redesigned models from 2013 and all new cars sold from 2017.
From January 1, all European car companies must limit the GWP of air conditioning refrigerants.
In a statement on December 20, 2012, the EU said it will fully enforce its directive to move to the new refrigerant.
The EU is threatening legal action against Daimler if it doesn’t change its current position.
However, Daimler says the new refrigerant is highly flammable and dangerous. While
the refrigerant has passed tests by Honeywell, DuPont and the US Environmental Protection Agency, it failed tests undertaken by Daimler.
Daimler engineers said crash tests found that a mix of refrigerant and oil from the air conditioning compressor could be ignited by the hot surface of the engine, creating a toxic gas.
Following the Daimler test findings, Volkswagen confirmed it is re-evaluating
the product and won’t be using it “until further notice”.
However, not all manufacturers are taking this position. General Motors says it is committed to using the refrigerant, having conducted tests of its own that found the refrigerant to be safe.
It will cost GM about $75 per vehicle to switch to the new refrigerant and install redesigned air conditioners.
The automobile engineering society, SAE International, has also found HFO-1234yf to be safe. SAE International is undertaking a new assessment incorporating Daimler’s findings.
The results are expected to be released at the end of February, 2013.
