Both sides in the intractable dispute concerning the use of r1234yf refrigerant in vehicle air-conditioning units appear to be claiming a partial vindication of their respective opinions following the publication of an interim report.
Mercedes-Benz and the German Transport Ministry point to the preliminary nature of the report by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) German road safety authority, which was tasked with evaluating the European Union-recommended r1234yf chemical that Mercedes maintains can be highly flammable in certain conditions.
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“The testing is completed but the report is not,” a Mercedes-Benz spokesman told just-auto from Stuttgart. “The old refrigerant does not burn – the new refrigerant does – so we have a higher risk with [the] new refrigerant.
“This is something that worsens the safety of vehicles and this is something mentioned in the KBA [report].”
Despite optimism from Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker is still proceeding with its request for a preliminary injunction at France’s highest Court, the Council of State, to have the certification ban on its A, B, CLA and SL models lifted.
“We are carrying on [with the Court case] and the hearing is on 23 August, we are still waiting for that of course,” said the Mercedes spokesman.
“The German Ministry of Transport is [also] in discussions with the European Commission to find a compromise how we will go forward.”
The EC noted the KBA’s interim report, but an official in Brussels told just-auto: “On the basis of these preliminary findings, the Commission still considers there is no evidence there is a general safety risk related to the flammability of the refrigerant HFO 1234yf, or there would be no technical solutions available to mitigate the flammability risks associated with the use of the HFO 1234yf gas in MAC [mobile air conditioning] systems.
“Safety is everyone’s top priority, which is why the Commission has offered technical and scientific support in reviewing the testing procedures and results.”
Chemical provider, Honeywell, has previously mounted a robust defence of its r1234yf product and insists the KBA tests show there are no “serious” risks.
“Automakers had six years to prepare to comply with the MAC directive,” a statement from Honeywell noted. “Those automakers who prepared for the law have proven they can safely incorporate HFO-1234yf into their vehicle designs.
“Honeywell continues to stand firmly behind the safety of HFO-1234yf, and it will continue to supply its customers to enable them to comply with the MAC directive.”
“With the exception of Daimler, there is broad consensus that HFO-1234yf poses no greater risk than HFC-134a in cars.”
Mercedes takes a radically different view however.
“For the purposes of our customers’ safety we stick to the decision to develop and to introduce CO2-based air conditioning systems for series-production vehicles as soon as possible,” said a Mercedes statement.
