Refrigerants used in mobile air condition systems (MAC) - State of play

Enterprise and Industry - European Commission Refrigerants used in mobile air condition systems (MAC) - State of play



In September 2012, one manufacturer (Daimler) raised concerns about the safety of the use of HFO 1234yf as refrigerant in mobile air condition systems and declared that it would continue to use R134a.

Since 1 January 2011, air conditioning systems of new types of vehicles must be filled with a refrigerant with a low impact on the climate (in line with the EU's "MAC" Directive 2006/40/EC on mobile air conditioning). Fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential (GWP) higher than 150 CO2 GWP can no longer be used in mobile air climate (MAC) systems. Car manufacturers are free to choose a refrigerant/system as long as it fulfils the obligation of the directive. In 2009, the car manufacturers chose the new refrigerant HFO 1234yf to fulfil this requirement due to its low GWP. The currently used Refrigerant R134a, with a GWP of 1300, is de facto banned in newly type-approved vehicles (new models) since 1 January 2011. From 1 January 2017, this ban will be extended to all new vehicles.