Environmental lobby group, Greenpeace has come down firmly on the side of Daimler as the stand-off between France and Germany concerning the use of r134a refrigerant shows no sign of being resolved.
In a highly unusual move, given Greenpeace hostility to what it views as Daimler’s production of vehicles with “the highest fuel consumption of any of the German premium manufacturers,” the body is backing the automaker as it seeks to overturn a French ban on certain models using the coolant instead of the European Union recommendation of the r1234yf refrigerant.
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“Greenpeace makes no strong case for R134a, yet we find ourselves on the side of Daimler in this instance,” said Greenpeace special projects campaigner, Wolfgang Lohbeck. “We are opposed to the introduction of new harmful CFCs as replacement substances for the 1234yf refrigerant.
“The new chemical does indeed contribute less to global warming, but the real impacts of the new generation of CFCs are completely unpredictable. Of course it is unfortunate this means a a longer transition period for r134a. But compared to the establishment of yet another CFC as a successor refrigerant, it is the lesser evil.”
Lohbeck added he felt France was “on very thin ice” and that the EU should allow Daimler a temporary use of the old refrigerant within a tight timeframe to allow for alternatives to be developed.
“The ideal air conditioning is no air conditioning,” said Lohbeck. “Air-conditioning systems increase fuel consumption considerably. However, now air conditioners are used today in almost all models, they should have to work with natural refrigerants.
“CO2 for example, is a proven and effective natural refrigerant. German car makers have in principle already chosen CO2 as a refrigerant in 2007 and expressly rejected the new F-Gas refrigerant.”
Greenpeace claims the EU has “failed” as instead of specifying only the maximum allowable greenhouse value – GWP 150 – it should have banned F-gas based refrigerants altogether.
Despite endorsement from Greenpeace, the environmental body reserved judgement on the German automaker and rejected claims it was now Daimler’s “best friend.”
“Of course not,” said Lohbeck. “Daimler makes the cars with the highest fuel consumption of any of the German premium manufacturers. We are critical of that.
“But we welcome Daimler’s courage to oppose the use of the new refrigerant, which is mandatory in the EU since the beginning of the year.
“We will continue to monitor Daimler critically and demand they come to a solution quickly.”
