Germany Aims to End Europe’s Refrigerant Controversy

Germany has proposed an undisclosed way to resolve a controversy over the safety of a "green" automotive refrigerant mandated by the European Commission, Reuters reports.

The news service cites an unnamed European Union source who says the EU is reviewing a March 5 letter from German authorities aimed at avoiding fines against Daimler AG. The source did not offer details about the proposal.

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz Car unit faces sanctions for not switching to HFO-1234yf, a new refrigerant co-developed by DuPont and Honeywell. The EC mandated the new material in January. HFC-1234yf has a global warming potential of 4 compared with 1,430 for R134a, the industry's current standard refrigerant.

The new refrigerant passed numerous laboratory tests over the past three years and is approved by SAE International. But Daimler said late last year that its own tests showed the material could ignite in a crash and release highly toxic fumes. The company announced it would defy the EC regulation and continue using R134a pending a resolution to the controversy.

Earlier this week Volkswagen AG said it intends to switch to a carbon dioxide-base cooling system rather than use the DuPont-Honeywell material. Companies that remain committed to HFC-1234yf include BMW, Fiat-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, PSA, Renault and Toyota.