German brand sharing CO2 tech to accelerate automotive adoption After years of resistance, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler has finally decided to adopt R1234yf in some models, but only as a stepping-stone towards the range-wide rollout of cars with air conditioning systems using CO2 refrigerant (R744). The first R744-equipped models will be the high-end S-Class and … Continue reading Mercedes-Benz adopts R1234yf as CO2 stepping stone
The survey The survey of air conditioning faults in 667 motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, tractors and heavy equipment was conducted from 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2015 and includes actual repairs and evaluations carried out by CoolCar air conditioning Centre, Hamilton (more background can be found in the September 2015 edition of SightGlass … Continue reading NZ Automotive AC field survey, summer 2014-2015: Part 2
IT’S official: A global HFC phasedown under the Montreal Protocol will be negotiated and could be agreed to as early as next year, now that the main objectors to forming an HFC contact group have softened their previously hard-line stance. The breakthrough was made in Dubai, on the eve of the 27th Meeting of the … Continue reading Global HFC phasedown progresses in Dubai
Despite independent safety study, DoE sees barriers to action In its Review of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Programme options paper, the Australian Department of the Environment says that as a Commonwealth authority it does not consider itself to have responsibility for the safety aspects of its central position within the refrigeration and air … Continue reading Ozone review pays lip service to safety concerns
VASA was among the 13 industry organisations David Caple & Associates consulted with, in addition to 22 regulators, eight training organisations, 17 suppliers and service providers, one trade union, one insurance group and seven overseas advisors. Conclusions of the report are not as definitive as VASA or many others in the industry would have hoped, … Continue reading Recommendations of David Caple report find their way into the Ozone Review technical analysis
Rise in licensing and levy costs mooted, but no alternative refrigerant controls Despite the regulation of all refrigerants under the review of Australia’s Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management (OPSGGM) programme being unanimously desired by industry, the review options paper and supporting documents published by the Department of the Environment in October 2015 give … Continue reading Ozone review: Options paper falls short
Lead chemist in the development of new industry-standard automotive refrigerant R1234yf Mario Nappa has been awarded the 2015 Winthrop-Sears Medal for entrepreneurial achievement. Dr Nappa, who worked with Wire & Gas 2015 keynote speaker Barbara Minor on the R1234yf project, already has quite a collection awards for technical achievement, invention and engineering excellence to go … Continue reading R1234yf boffin wins Chemists’ Club medal
The Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTAQ) has launched a ‘pre-vocational’ nine-week course designed to give youngsters aspiring to an automotive career the basic knowledge, technical and life skills to boost their confidence and ready them for the job market. A five-week practical element includes safe work practices, the use and maintenance of tools and … Continue reading MTAQ’s Auto Initiation training program
The Antarctic ozone hole reached 28.2 million square kilometres in October this year, the third largest observed after 2000 and 2006, according to NASA data. However rather than being a result of huge ozone depletion in the last 12 months, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says we are not seeing a reversal of the good … Continue reading Ozone hole one of the biggest ever – but don’t worry
Of nine refrigerant samples from eight brands of R134a refrigerant sold for automotive use in the Chinese city of Guanzshou in Guangdong province, four were found to contain unacceptable levels of contaminants such as chlorine, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and water. In another Guangdong province city, Zhuhai, 900 cylinders of fake refrigerant plus associated packaging, documentation … Continue reading More fake refrigerant in China
