Say Hello to HFO 1234yf, Greenhouse-Gas Friendly Coolant For Your Next New Car

Say Hello to HFO 1234yf, Greenhouse-Gas Friendly Coolant For Your Next New Car

By John O'Dell October 19, 2009

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.

Well, if you didn't like the new stuff, hang, on - change is coming,  again.

The federal EPA issued a proposal today to approve a replacement for HFC 134a, which still - by virtue of its fluorocarbon content - still packs way too much greenhouse gas impact.

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.

In case you were wondering, nobody makes HFO 1234yf in commercial quantities yet,  but  refrigerant manufacturers told the EPA they'd be ready when the market is.

Oh, and the stuff is supposed to cost more than the stuff it replaces, which, of course, cost more than the stuff it replaced.  

That's in part because manufacturing HFO 1234yf  requires more energy - although apparently not enough to offset its clean-air benefits.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.