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The EU regulated by law a limit for refrigerants in vehicle air conditioning systems (2006/40/EC). From 2011 on, no refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) above 150 are allowed in mobile air conditioning systems of new types of vehicles. In 2017, every new car’s air conditions system has to by equipped with a more environmentally friendly coolant.
There are two alternatives to the existing refrigerant R134 to meet the new EU standards: The natural refrigerant CO2 and the chemical alternative HFO-1234yf (Tetrafluoroprop-1-ene). Automobile manufactures intend to use the chemical refrigerant HFO-1234yf. But HFO-1234yf is highly flammable and would endanger passengers and rescuers in case of an accident, as a test of the German Environmental Agency has shown.