I think I’ll question the timing
Remember when the widely used R12 automotive air conditioner refrigerant was declared to be evil back in 1993?
The replacement was called HFC 134a (also known as R-134a) and it was supposed to be less toxic to the atmosphere — even though, many complained, it didn’t cool as well as R12.
As always, things go from bad to worse, then the cycle repeats. Meet your new new refrigerant:
The new stuff, HFO 1234yf (notice how the nomenclature gets more complex with each improvement) is supposed to be about 350 times more atmospherically friendly than HFC 134a.
Automakers are hoping the stuff will help them meet the new federal automotive GHG standards being considered in Congress.
DuPont and Honeywell, which co-developed the refrigerant, also are hoping it’s a hit. Both Europe and Japan have approved HFO 1234yf for use in automotive air conditioners, and Europe has banned HFC 134a starting with 2011 models. The U.S. is expected to follow.
One nagging little suspicion won’t go away: it’s almost seventeen years since the last time we were told our A/C refrigerant was evil. Don’t patents expire in 17 years?
(Seen at AutoblogGreen.)
Jeffro »
25 October 2009 · 1:05 pm
I’ll share your suspicion.