Tag: R134a

Chemours and Honeywell have announced the development of a “retrofit approach for vehicles using the legacy R134a mobile air-conditioning refrigerant” that enables these systems to run R1234yf. As Honeywell rightly points out, there are hundreds of millions of cars on the roads “potentially leaking R134a every day.”   Replacing all that refrigerant, with its global … Continue reading Retrofits to return: Why it won’t be simple

German compressor manufacturer Secop has unveiled the BD Nano, a cutting-edge silent compressor designed for battery-driven applications such as motorhomes and electric vehicles. Secop anticipates that the BD Nano will boost the performance of in-car compressor refrigerators, such as those found in electric vehicles like the Kia EV5, which has a four-litre capacity, and the … Continue reading New onboard fridge compressor for EVs

A column by VASA President Brett Meads You could be forgiven for thinking the following is a crude attempt at satire, perhaps even sarcasm – or maybe a bad dream – however, you would be wrong. This is a bizarre set of circumstances, with long-term negative environmental consequences, thanks to a sad omission by those … Continue reading Lack of restriction on high-GWP mobile air-conditioning refrigerants in Australia: A missed opportunity

Results from the 2022-2023 motor vehicle refrigerant survey are in, suggesting a bit of a bounce-back for hydrocarbon refrigerant usage – although participation in the survey was higher with 548 vehicles analysed compared with 500 last year.  Continue reading HC bounceback detected in 2022-2023 vehicle refrigerant survey

Latest automotive refrigerant survey from RRA

Since 2013, Refrigerant Reclaim Australia has worked with VASA member workshops to conduct regular surveys of which refrigerants are installed in vehicles that are having air-conditioning work done at metropolitan and regional locations around the country. The study records how many vehicles are charged with R134a, R1234yf, hydrocarbons and mixtures of hydrocarbons with other refrigerants. … Continue reading Latest automotive refrigerant survey from RRA

Repairer penalised for possession of outlawed disposable R134a cylinders

An automotive mechanic in Victoria caught with 26 disposable cylinders of R134a has been fined under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations. Disposable cylinders containing scheduled substances such as R134a are banned in Australia. Inspectors from the Department of the Environment and Energy executed a search warrant on the Victorian workshop premises … Continue reading Repairer penalised for possession of outlawed disposable R134a cylinders

The red R134a sticker on a refrigerant line fitting in the image above is found under the bonnet of a cutting-edge electric vehicle that is selling well in Australia. The Hyundai Kona. Inset is a J639 label from another hi-tech EV, the Jaguar I-Pace, sold in Australia carrying 850 grams of R134a. The Kona uses … Continue reading Car-makers keep using high-GWP refrigerant

Major auto retailer cops heavy fine for importing a bus containing R134a without a permit

Importing a bus with an air-conditioning system containing R134a has landed a “major automotive retailer” in hot water. The News South Wales-based business copped a $12,600 fine under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act for bringing in equipment charged with a controlled refrigerant without an appropriate licence. According to The Department, the … Continue reading Major auto retailer cops heavy fine for importing a bus containing R134a without a permit

A recently published report has detailed a range of potential refrigerant blends designed to replace R134a, which could serve as more environmentally friendly alternatives. The research, carried out by the US Government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratory, was focused on finding less harmful non- or marginally flammable R134a alternatives for military applications. … Continue reading More R134a alternatives on the horizon?

Greater efficiency from a smaller refrigerant charge Successful trials of a secondary loop car air-conditioning system could open the door to a range of alternative refrigerants with smaller charge sizes. Potential benefits to the consumer include improved fuel efficiency and lower servicing costs. As a global average, energy consumption by car air-conditioning is estimated at … Continue reading Secondary loop auto-AC trial results