Should Australia’s fuel efficiency standard give a free kick to gas guzzlers running R1234yf?

In line with the recently released National Electric Vehicle Strategy (NEVS), the Australian Government has opened public consultations for the design and introduction of a fuel efficiency standard (FES) that will apply to passenger and light commercial vehicles – and the question of refrigerant global warming potential is included.

Australia, like Russia, is one of the very few developed countries without a fuel efficiency standard that penalises automotive manufacturers if the average CO2 emissions of all new vehicles sold in a 12-month period exceeds a required level. 

Over the course of the year, in another round of public outreach, the FES consultation paper, in conjunction with NEVS, aims to ensure the best low-emissions and fuel-saving technology, such as that used in hybrid and electric vehicles as well as high-efficiency internal combustion engines, is sent to Australia by the global automotive manufacturers.