Honeywell is insisting the European Commission’s (EC) Joint research Centre (JRC) operates “at arm’s length” from Brussels as the scientific body published its report backing the chemical producer’s 1234yf refrigerant.
The JRC has issued a 17-page review of the use of r1234yf as opposed to the Mercedes-Benz endorsement of its r134a alternative, with Honeywell noting its “independent and unimpeachable” nature.
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“They [JRC] are at arm’s length from the European Commission – they are the scientific research body of the EC,” a Honeywell spokesman told just-auto from Brussels. They are asked to look at what the consequences of proposed legislation would be and what would be the law of unintended consequences as well.
“They are civil servants because they are employed by the EC, but are at arm’s length.”
Mercedes argues r1234yf can present a fire hazard in certain circumstances and was initially banned from selling its A, B, CLA and SL models in France until the Conseil d’Etat, the country’s highest Court, overturned the ruling.
Honeywell and Mercedes have been at loggerheads ever since surrounding the controversial issue, with the chemical manufacturer referring to “a single automaker,” although this was widely taken to be Mercedes.
“When Daimler came and said we have safety concerns the EC did not rubbish its concerns – they said OK, we are going to ask Germany why you are not enforcing a piece of European legislation in your home market,” added the Honeywell spokesman.
“That is why the German authorities asked the KBA [Kraftfahrt Bundesamt] to do testing. When the KBA said they found no legal basis to ban the refrigerant, the EC then asked the JRC to look into the protocols of all tests, including those of the KBA and SAE, to ensure the results were 100%, to see if there was proper analysis and if there were any questions to be raised.
“The MAC directive is technology-neutral and very deliberately did not want to be prescriptive in saying what an eventual replacement refrigerant to the banned r134a should be.
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By GlobalData“Honeywell was working on several different solutions and, based on feedback from the world’s automakers, decided r1234yf was the way forward.”
Mercedes was not immediately available for comment from Stuttgart, but noted to just-auto in January, its view the type approval for its vehicles was valid and it was developing its own CO2 refrigerant.
“We wanted to use r1234yf initially, but due to our tests and due to the safety risks, we decided not to use it,” a Mercedes spokesman said.
“Our new CO2 refrigerant is due by 2017 and of course we have to have it ready for serious production in 2016. It is a tough line, but it is our goal reach that timeline.”
For Honeywell however, the JRC report represents “the last word” in the debate, although given its divisive nature, Mercedes is sure to respond.
“For Honeywell, the most important thing is the JRC has said there is no safety issue,” said the Honeywell spokesman.
The JRC was not immediately available for comment.
