New Auto Refrigerant Is Safe, SAE Study Declares

An SAE International-backed review of refrigerant R-1234yf has formally declared the material safe.

SAE's final report concludes that the risk of the material catching fire in a car crash is nearly six orders of magnitude less than the risk of vehicle fires from all causes.

Last fall Daimler AG said its own lab tests showed that R-1234yf could catch fire and form poisonous fumes in a crash. The SAE report says Daimler's concerns were based on "unrealistic" test conditions.

The EU has mandated the use of the refrigerant in all new vehicles sold there since Jan. 1. The new material has a global warming potential rating of 4 compared with 1,430 for R-134a, the previous industry standard material.