Car manufacturing could soon return to South Australia, with two separate electric vehicle companies selecting the state as their future production bases in the same week. Australian start-up ACE-EV signed a partnership agreement with Aldom Motor Body Builders in Adelaide’s north to assemble its planned range of electric light commercial and passenger vehicles. The first … Continue reading EV production for South Australia?
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?
President of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA), Kevin O’Shea, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 honours list. Mr O’Shea has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry. He has been RACCA president since 1999, and … Continue reading Kevin O’Shea honoured
In parallel to the development of battery electric vehicles, progress in hydrogen fuel cell technology and the supporting fuel infrastructure is gathering pace both globally and in Australasia. For example, Toyota Australia is pumping $4.3 million into construction of Victoria’s first hydrogen refuelling station at its former car manufacturing site in Altona. The project is … Continue reading Hydrogen fuel progress
A study published by an international team of scientists has further identified China as the source of significant CFC-11 emissions, despite it being phased out in 2010 under Montreal Protocol. The chemical, which is particularly damaging to the ozone layer and has a high global warming potential (GWP) of 4660, was historically used primarily in … Continue reading Mystery CFC-11 emissions
Doors Wide Open, a report recently published by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), has showcased how the illegal refrigerant trade is flourishing in Europe. The detailed report reveals customs figures that indicate up to 16.3 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent HFCs made it into Europe illegally in 2018 – a figure equivalent to 16.1 per cent … Continue reading EIA shines a light on illegal refrigerant
VASA’S North American counterpart MACS has received reports of Chinese vehicles being sold into Uruguay with air-conditioning systems labelled as using the refrigerant blend R415b. This refrigerant is 25 per cent R22 (an ozone-depleting HCFC) and 75 per cent R152a (an A2-rated flammable HFC). It is reportedly installed in seven-seat minivan type vehicles sold in … Continue reading Chinese vehicles using R415b?
SNAP approval sought for broader use of YF The United States Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has proposed that R1234yf be considered for adoption in off-road mobile machinery under the US Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP). Representatives from AEM met with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in May to notify the regulatory body that … Continue reading R1234yf for off-highway vehicles
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
Mercedes engineers grapple with passenger comfort for eCitaro bus Keeping bus interiors at the right temperature is a substantial task at the best of times, considering the huge internal volume, large glass area, frequent door-openings and constantly changing passenger loads. According to Mercedes-Benz, the overall energy consumption of a city bus doubles at -10°C compared … Continue reading How to heat and cool an EV bus
