EU sets car-makers new deadline for greener air conditioning

Refrigerant used in current air conditioning systems in most European cars is more polluting than CO2

David Gow in Brussels
guardian.co.uk, Monday 27 April 2009 12.38 BST

Europe's struggling car-makers are facing a legal requirement to fit more eco-friendly air conditioning on all new models from 2011.
The European commission recently ruled that the full force of a 2006 law, the MAC (mobile air conditioning) directive (pdf), will take effect in two years' time rather than 2017 as the industry has been lobbying for.
Car-makers have been pressing EU governments to allow them to continue using existing types of air conditioning on new models of existing cars as they struggle to invest in "green" technologies and develop more fuel-efficient models such as hybrids and electric vehicles.
But the commission insists that the refrigerant used in current air conditioning systems in most European cars has a global warming potential (GWP) far higher than the 150 laid down by the MAC law. Some estimates put the GWP of the existing refrigerant (hydrofluorocarbon R-134a) at 1,400 times higher than CO2.
The commission's guidance, welcomed by green campaigners, says that national authorities are wrongly interpreting the law to approve current systems up to the end of 2016.
Chris Davies, a Liberal Democrat MEP, argued that the new law was good for business and the environment: "This is a textbook example of how EU environmental legislation can create market opportunities and promote innovation."
The ruling has prompted a race among car manufacturers to find alternative refrigerants Some are opting for CO2 itself, which has a GWP of one but can remain in the atmosphere for up to 500 years compared to the 13 years for the current refrigerant.
Honeywell, the US industrial group, claims its new hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant known as '1234-YF' has a GWP of just four and an atmospheric lifetime of just 11 days. It says this can swiftly be used in current air conditioning systems without a significant redesign but critics say it is much more expensive.
The European car industry lobby, ACEA, is expected to seize on the ruling to step up its case for €40bn in loans to help car-makers develop "greener" models in the face of the downturn which has seen sales slump 17.2% in the first quarter of 2009.