AUDI confirmed to SightGlass News at the Frankfurt motor show that the new A8 will run an R744 air-conditioning system, but only for some markets. Details about the system and where it is destined remain scarce, but Audi has publicly described its air quality sensor that “detects harmful gases and activates the recirculated air mode … Continue reading A8 JOINS S-CLASS IN R744 LIMO CLUB
THE word ‘unobtainable’ does not only apply to the multi-million dollar Bugatti Chiron hypercar itself, but also a CO2 (R744) air-conditioning compressor small enough to fit in the cramped engine bay of the world’s fastest production car. For now, the rarefied air of a Chiron cabin will remain chilled by R1234yf, or R134a for really … Continue reading BUGATTI ‘INVESTIGATING R744
RUMOURS continue to swirl that Volkswagen has some 2.0-litre Golf prototypes with R744 air-conditioning systems under test, but word from company officials at the Frankfurt motor show is that this refrigerant will not see the light of day on any current platforms. “We are developing it, I am not sure when or what approach, but … Continue reading VW TAKES ALL OR NOTHING APPROACH TO R744
DR WAWZYNIAK described at length the challenges of using heat pumps in electrified vehicles, but said a side-effect of autonomous technology – even lower levels that require an alert driver behind the wheel – is making life easier for engineers working on ways of efficiently heating the cabin of a battery-powered car. Carmakers would love … Continue reading WHY AUTONOMOUS DRIVING WILL ULTIMATELY FAVOUR YF OVER R744
ELECTRIFIED and self-driving vehicles are presenting curve-balls to suppliers that design, engineer and make thermal management and HVAC systems. This is having an impact on refrigerant choices, because while R1234yf is great for conventional air-conditioning and R744 is better for heat pumps in low ambients, YF comes into its own again when scavenging heat from … Continue reading SECOND COMING
