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Refrigerants on mobile air conditioning: EU Commission asks Germany to apply Directive 2006/40/EC
In appliance of the MAC Directive every new build vehicle must use low GWP refrigerant gases.
Germany has two months to respond to the letter of formal notice written by the European Commission to ensure the enforcement of the MAC Directive by Germany. The issue stems from a German automotive manufacturer who does not use a permitted refrigerant.
The European Directive on mobile air-conditioning systems (MACs) aims at reducing emissions of specific fluorinated greenhouse gases in the air-conditioning systems fitted to passenger cars (vehicles of category M1) and light commercial vehicles (category N1, class 1).
In practical terms, the use of the gas that is currently used for filling MAC systems (HFC-134a) is not permitted for newly type-approved vehicles since January 2011. Automotive manufacturers have decided, in 2009, on the the use of refrigerant HFO-1234yf for its low global warming potential.
In 2011, in response to a problem of supply of HFO 1234yf, the European Commission accepted to refrain from launching infringement procedures in cases where vehicle production would continue to be done with the gas HFC-134a until 31 December 2012. This solution was inextricably linked to the exceptional circumstances of lack of supply of the refrigerant. Since that problem has been solved, as expected, in the last quarter of 2012, there will be no extension of this solution. Vehicles that have been type-approved for the use of gas HFO 1234yf cannot be registered if they use gas HFC-134a, given that, according to Framework Directive 2007/46/EC, it is not possible for motor vehicles to be registered and marketed in the EU if they are not in conformity with the relevant legislation.
The European Directive on mobile air-conditioning systems (MACs) aims at reducing emissions of specific fluorinated greenhouse gases in the air-conditioning systems fitted to passenger cars (vehicles of category M1) and light commercial vehicles (category N1, class 1).
In practical terms, the use of the gas that is currently used for filling MAC systems (HFC-134a) is not permitted for newly type-approved vehicles since January 2011. Automotive manufacturers have decided, in 2009, on the the use of refrigerant HFO-1234yf for its low global warming potential.
In 2011, in response to a problem of supply of HFO 1234yf, the European Commission accepted to refrain from launching infringement procedures in cases where vehicle production would continue to be done with the gas HFC-134a until 31 December 2012. This solution was inextricably linked to the exceptional circumstances of lack of supply of the refrigerant. Since that problem has been solved, as expected, in the last quarter of 2012, there will be no extension of this solution. Vehicles that have been type-approved for the use of gas HFO 1234yf cannot be registered if they use gas HFC-134a, given that, according to Framework Directive 2007/46/EC, it is not possible for motor vehicles to be registered and marketed in the EU if they are not in conformity with the relevant legislation.
