TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP
ALTERNATIVES IN MVACs
Background
Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners (MVACs) cool passenger cars, ight duty trucks, buses, and rail vehicles. They have been produced in the United States
since the 1960s and in Japan since the 1970s. MVACs were not widely used in Europe or developing countries until the 1990s. The charge size is 0.5 -
1.2 kg and the average lifetime is 12-16 years.
This fact sheet provides current information on low
Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives in newly
manufactured
MVACs relevant to the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer}
2010 HFC Consumption
(Estimates Presented in MMTCO eq.)
MVACs in passenger cars, light duty trucks, buses,
and rai vehicles account for an estimated 24% of
today's global HFC consumption. In the refrigeration/
air-conditioning sector, these MVACs account for an
estimated 30% of Ref/AC HFC consumption. Developing
countries account for an estimated 68 million metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTC02eq.) or 26% of global
HFC consumption in these MVAC end-uses.
Solvents
(1%)
Fire Extinguishing
(4%)
Aerosols
(5%)
Foams
(11%)
HFC Consumption Total: 1,087 MMTCO eq.
Global HFC Consumption Total: 1,087 MMTC02eq.
Global HFC Consumption MVAC: 257 MMTC02eq.
Refrigeration/AC Total: 858 MMTCO eq.
Global Ref/AC Sector Total: 858 MMTC02eq.
Global Ref/AC Sector MVAC: 257 MMTC02eq.
HFC Alternatives and Market Trends
CFC-12 refrigerant was historically used in MVACs. HFC-134a replaced R-12 in new equipment in the early 1990s. Today R-134a is the dominant refrigerant used
in cars worldwide. In buses and trains, about 50% of global equipment uses HCFC-22 refrigerant, the remainder use R-134a or HFC-407C (a blend of HFCs). Some
low-GWP alternatives are summarized below.
HFO-1234yf2
• Cooling performance and fuel use comparable to R-134a
• Potential use as a direct substitute in R-134a systems
• Approved in Japan and for small volumes in Europe
• Proposed as acceptable by the U.S.; final decision expected in 2010
• Production -
o A pilot R-1234yf production facility is anticipated to be operational
in less than two years with large-scale capacity by 2015
o A production facility in China is scheduled to begin operation in 2011
• General Motors Co. plans to manufacture some models with R-1234yf
in model year 2013
Europe's MVAC Experience
The existing fleet of cars in Europe uses R-134a for air
conditioning. New European Union (EU) regulations require
cars sold in the EU to use refrigerants with GWPs less than 150
beginning in 2011 for new vehicles and in 2017 for all vehicles.
EC Directive 2006/40/EC requires the EC to consider extending
this regulation to AC in buses, coaches and trucks.
R-152a
• Good energy efficiency and cooling performance
• Requires additional safety equipment, other components remain the
same as standard R-134a systems
• To date, no vehicle manufacturer has committed to using R-152a
Carbon Dioxide (R-744)
• Cooling performance, energy efficiency, and fuel use comparable to
R-134a systems in most cars
• Prototype R-744 systems are in use in buses and trains in Europe;
commercialization is expected within two years
• Verband der Automobilindustrie expressed interest in R-744 for
passenger vehicles, but interest may be shifting
HFO-1243zf3/R-32/R-134a Blend
• Flammability similar to that of R-1234yf
• Energy efficiency is expected to be equal or better than R-134a
• Toxicity expected to be low
• Not currently produced in high volumes
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Refrigerant Transition in the MVAC End-Use"
Passenger Vehicles and Light Trucks:^
R-12
R-134a
"
Buses and Trains:
R-134a
R-407C
•Solid arrows represent alternatives already available in the market for these systems; dashed arrows indicate
those likely to be available in future; and heavier dashes indicate where higher interest and activity exists.
Refrigerant
R-12
R-22
R-407C
R-134a
R-1243zf/32/134a Blend
R-152a
R-1234yf
R-744
GWP
10,900
1,810
1,774
1,430
<150
124
4
1
ODPa
1
0.055
0
0
0
0
0
0
aODP=ozone depletion potential.
Challenges and Potential Solutions
Barriers to market entry—including, flammability, toxicity, and performance—associated with each potential alternative are summarized below.
Alternative
R-1234yf
R-152a
R-744
R-1243zf/32/134a
Blend
Challenges
• Slight Flammability Risks
• Limited Production Capacity
• Regulatory Approval
• Limited Availability May Prevent Full Market Penetration in the Near-Term
• Higher Flammability Risks
• Limited Production Capacity
• Needs New Servicing Infrastructure
• Asphyxiation Risks
• High Operating Pressures
• Regulatory Approval
• System Reliability and Leak Reduction
• Higher Flammability Risks
• Not Currently Manufactured
• Needs Regulatory Review and Approval
Potential Solutions
• Safety System Installation
• Engineering Design
• Increase Production Capacity
• Currently Under EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
Program Review
• Currently Under EU REACH Review for High Volume Applications
• Safety System Installation
• Engineering Design (e.g., Secondary Loop System)
• Increase Production Capacity
• Engineering Design
• Training and Education
• Inclusion of Odorant in Formulation as a Warning System
• SNAP Proposed Use Conditions to Address Risks
• Safety System Installation
• Engineering Design (e.g., Secondary Loop System)
Future Outlook
Taken together, the suite of known alternative chemicals, new technologies, and better process and handling practices can significantly reduce HFC
consumption in both the near and long term, while simultaneously completing the HCFC phaseout. Although there is much work to do to fully implement
these chemicals, technologies and practices, and some unknowns still remain, the industries currently using HCFCs and MFCs have proven through the ODS
phaseout that they can move quickly to protect the environment.
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References
Coons, Rebecca. 2010. "Honeywell, DuPont Form JVto Produce Refrigerant." ChemicalWeek. May 24,2010.
European Commission (EC). 2009. "EC Policy on MFCs & Other Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases." Presented by Thomas Verheye at the Workshop on the
Dialogue on High-Global Warming Alternatives for ODS. Geneva, Switzerland. July 14,2009.
European Commission (EC). 2006. "Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 relating to emissions from
air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC." Official Journal of the European Union. L161/12. June 14,2006.
European Fluorocarbons Technical Committee. Undated. "Fluorocarbons and Sulphur Hexafluoride." Retrieved July 15,2010 from:
http://www.fluorocarbons.org/en/applications/air_conditioning.html
Greenpeace. 2010. "Cool Technologies: Working Without MFCs—2010, Examples of HFC-Free Cooling Technologies in Various Industrial Sectors."
Presented at the 30th Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. June 2010.
Available online at:
http://www.unep.ch/ozone/Meeting_Documents/oewg/30oewg/conf-ngos/COOLING%20%20WITHOUT%20HFCs%20-%202010-GREENPEACE.pdf
ICF International. 2009. "2009 Marginal Abatement Cost Curve Analysis for Reduction of HFCs in Traditional Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
End-Use Applications: Draft Report." Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. October 30,2009.
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. "Climate Change 2007:The Physical Science Basis." Contribution of Working Group I to the
Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.
Tignor, and H.L. Miller (Eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. Available online at:
http://www.ipcc. ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/contents.html
Korzeniewski, Jeremy. 2009. "HFO-1234yf: Get Used to Hearing It." Autoblog Green. October 24,2009. Retrieved September 20,2010 from:
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/24/hfo-1234yf-get-used-to-hearing-it/
Mendel, Jenny. 2010. "GM to Use Climate-Friendly Refrigerant." Greenwire. July 26,2010.
R744.com. 2010. "World's First C02 Bus A/C Cools in Berlin." July 5,2010. Retrieved September 20,2010 from:
http://www.r744.com/articles/2010-07-05-update-worlds-first-co2-bus-ac-cools-in-berlin.php
Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 201 Oa. "Report of the TEAPXXI/9 Task Force." Presented by Lambert Kuijpers, Miguel Quintero,
Dan Verdonik, and Shiqiu Zhang at the 30th Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer. Geneva, Switzerland. June 15,2010. Available online at:
http://www.unep. ch/ozone/Meeting_Documents/oewg/30oewg/conf-presentations-en.shtml
Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 201 Ob. "TEAP 2010 Progress Report. Volume 1: Assessment of HCFCs and Environmentally Sound
Alternatives, Scoping Study on Alternatives to HCFC Refrigerants under High Ambient Temperature Conditions." May 2010. Available online at:
http://www.unep. ch/ozone/Assessment_Panels/TEAP/Reports/TEAP_Reports/teap-2010-progress-report-volume1-May2010.pdf
Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). 2009. "Task Force Decision XX/8 Report. Assessment of Alternatives to HCFCs and HFCs and
Update of the TEAP 2005 Supplement Report Data." May 2009. Available online at:
http://www.unep.ch/ozone/Assessment_Panels/TEAP/Reports/TEAP_Reports/teap-may-2009-decisionXX-8-task-force-report.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Undated. "HFC-152 as an alternative to HFC-134a in mobile air conditioners." Retrieved July 15,2010
from: http://www.epa.goV/cpd/mac/152a/index.htm
1 The four factsheets in this series covering domestic refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, MVACs, and unitary AC represent
approximately 85% of HFC consumption in the refrigeration/AC sector. The remaining HFC consumption in the refrigeration/
AC sector is from chillers, cold storage, industrial process refrigeration, and refrigerated transport. Any service-related
consumption is attributed to the specific end-use.
2 HFOs(hydrofluoro-olefins) are unsaturated HFCs. HFO-1234yf refrigerant is commonly referred to as
HFC-1234yf or R-1234yf as it is referred to in the remainder of thisfactsheet.
3HFO-1243zf is commonly referred to as HFC-1243zf or R-1243zf.
us Environmenta| Protection Agency
EPA-430-F-1 0-041 • www.epa.gov • September 2010
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paperwith a minimum
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