International. The European Mobile Air Conditioning Directive (MAC) entered into force in 2006. It establishes a gradual ban on greenhouse gases in passenger and light industrial vehicles. As of January 1, 2011, the air conditioning systems of new vehicles must be filled with a refrigerant with a lower GWP. R134a has been totally banned since January 2017. All cars must be equipped with a system with a GWP below 150.
In this context, the use of the low GWP refrigerant R1234yf is at the heart of the debate.
In Germany, automaker Daimler delayed the introduction of R1234yf in its vehicles, arguing that it is slightly flammable. Daimler tried to develop a CO2-based air conditioning refrigerant instead. In addition, Japanese manufacturer Sanden recently confirmed that it is supplying CO2 compressors for Daimler.
In 2015, the European Commission referred Germany to the Court of Justice of the European Union alleging that Germany had breached EU law by allowing automaker Daimler to put motor vehicles still using R134a on the market, when the use of alternative gas R1234yf was approved. This case has not yet been heard in court. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority recently took action, however, by issuing a recall of all Daimler-built cars that were equipped with R134a when they were supposed to be equipped with R1234yf. This could represent 134,000 Mercedes vehicles.
R1234yf refrigerant is also the reason for a long-running dispute between French manufacturer Arkema and American manufacturer Honeywell. Arkema has presented its case to the European Commission several times since 2011, as Honeywell and DuPont's patents on R1234yf prevent Arkema from marketing its own product, even if they possessed proprietary technology to manufacture it. Arkema filed a new complaint in June 2017, saying it is convinced of the need for new arguments for the EC to pursue a case of abuse of a dominant position.
Source: International Institute of Refrigeration.
