Auto Extreme

DuPont Fluorochemicals has identified and is testing new proprietary refrigerants that the firm claims will meet the European Union (EU) requirements to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of refrigerants in future automotive air conditioning systems. The new refrigerants are expected to be compatible with conventional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) 134a automotive a/c systems, with the potential for only minor modifications. These new refrigerants are expected to be commercially available within three to five years, in time to meet the timeline set by the pending EU F-Gas regulation, whose requirements call for the phaseout of HFC-134a in new vehicle models beginning in 2011-and in all new cars by 2017-and replacement with alternative refrigerants having GWPs lower than 150.

The new refrigerants, which are now undergoing performance, toxicity and safety testing, are expected to be nonflammable and have significantly lower GWP than current refrigerants. Unlike CO2, however, these newly developed refrigerants are expected to offer similar performance to HFC-134a and would not require a complete redesign of current automotive a/c systems. DuPont is currently working with key players in the industry to ensure that solutions under development will meet the needs of the industry.

DuPont maintains that HFCs currently represent the best balance of performance, cost, safety and environmental properties for refrigeration and air conditioning, and actively supports HFC responsible-use programs to ensure current refrigerants are used safely and responsibly and are reclaimed and recycled to minimize potential sources of refrigerant emissions. Through responsible-use programs such as the Improved Mobile Air Conditioning (I-MAC) Cooperative Research Program, DuPont is working with stakeholders in the industry to minimize the environmental impact of current automotive a/c systems by improving their energy efficiency and reducing refrigerant emissions.
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