Daikin, the only company globally to manufacture both air-conditioning systems and refrigerants, has developed a low-GWP refrigerant designed for electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with heat pumps. R474A (D1V-140) has been developed as an alternative to R1234yf for improved heat pump performance in EVs, particularly in colder climates, where they can lose up to 20 per … Continue reading Daikin R474a (A2L) approved for EV heat pumps
Some car-makers are banking on combining plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell technologies to create plug-in fuel cell electric vehicles (PFCEVs) as a way to partially meet their carbon neutrality goals. Why the shift towards PFCEVs? Put simply, they address the elephant in the room of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure – specifically the lack of it. … Continue reading Hydrogen hybrids: Best of both worlds or flash in the pan?
Although hydrogen is the most abundant molecule in the universe, it only exists combined with other elements, for example in water (H2O). Not only does it have to be extracted using energy-intensive processes, 98 per cent of hydrogen produced today is extracted from fossil fuels. All this results in a large carbon footprint. Continue reading Australia makes ‘green hydrogen’ breakthrough
Just as the adoption of R1234yf is slowly gaining traction in Australasia after car-makers dragged the chain for far too long, the ultra-low global warming potential refrigerant could be banned due to its classification as a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance). Known as ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS – found in many everyday products including refrigerants – … Continue reading European PFAS laws may kill R1234yf before it reaches widespread uptake Down Under
A new green technology opportunity has arrived with the electric vehicle (EV) conversion market, potentially worth billions a year to the global automotive aftermarket. This has given rise to multiple independent startups – such as Australian company Jaunt which recently merged with British outfit Zero EV to create multinational conversion specialist Fellten – as well … Continue reading ‘Engine Swap’ market hots up with battery electric and hydrogen driveline conversions
After a tough 2021 due to multiple COVID restrictions, 2023 promises to be business as usual at the Brisbane Truck Show (BTS). Longstanding exhibitors are eager to return and showcase their new developments at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday 18th until Sunday 21st of May. Plenty of manufacturers, driven by record demand, … Continue reading Electrifying 2023 Brisbane Truck Show line-up looms
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has allocated $20.1 million of funding to Team Global Express (TGE), in addition to the logistics firm’s own AU$24.2m investment, to deploy 60 electric trucks. A fleet of 24 Daimler Fuso eCanters and 36 Volvo eFLs (Volvo’s largest ever e-truck order) will be added to TGE’s fleet, along with … Continue reading TGE to establish Australia’s biggest e-truck fleet with $20.1m of ARENA funding
Tesla has launched and handed over its first Class 8 battery-electric Semi truck to PepsiCo at its Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, five years after the first prototype was unveiled with a claimed range of 800km. An initial low production run of 100 Semis is planned for 2023 and although no price has been announced – … Continue reading Pepsico takes delivery of first Tesla Semi truck
An indictment on the slow uptake of R1234yf in vehicles exported to Australia is that the same number of cars were found to have a full charge of R12 – banned since the mid-1990s – as were running YF in the latest annual mobile air-conditioning survey report produced by Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA). Produced using … Continue reading Slow YF uptake and poor refrigerant recovery rates are cause for concern
The refrigerant safety panel at Wire & Gas provided a stark reminder to all in the automotive repair sector need to be vigilant about hydrocarbon refrigerants when working on air-conditioning systems, and to ensure they are not adding to the problem by contaminating their refrigerant cylinders with flammable mixtures. Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) general manager … Continue reading Automotive repair sector must remain vigilant of hydrocarbon refrigerants
