The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed two new choices of refrigerants for use in new vehicle air conditioning systems.
The proposal includes listing HFC-152a and CO2 as “acceptable alternatives” when selecting non ozone-depleting refrigerants for vehicle air conditioning units under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. When used with proper risk mitigation measures, HFC-152a and CO2 can reduce the environmental impact of motor vehicle air conditioners, the EPA said.If the proposal is adopted, the auto industry would be required to utilize these new options in a safe manner. According to the EPA, car manufacturers, component manufacturers and the motor vehicle air conditioning service industry have been involved in the development of this proposal. These industries are also working to develop prototype systems for using these refrigerants.
The EPA will be accepting public comment on this proposal for 30-days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register. For more information on this proposal, click here.
