The German automotive industry is going for more climate protection from air-conditioning systems. Following investigation of numerous alternatives to the refrigerant currently being used, vehicle manufacturers in the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) have now agreed to use the especially environmentally-friendly natural refrigerant R744 (carbon dioxide) in vehicle air-conditioning systems in future – and they will be the first world-wide automotive companies to do so.

This means that the direct greenhouse effect of an air-conditioning system can be reduced by a factor of more than 1,000 as compared to the technology in use today. ”With this joint step, German vehicle manufacturers will now be leading the world in climate-friendly refrigerants and are implementing their strategy of sustainable mobility in a consistent manner,” declared VDA President Matthias Wissmann.

From 1 January, 2011, new upper limits for refrigerants will apply in the EU. The future use of R744 will mean that German manufacturers will clearly undercut this new EU limit also. Now the remaining technical questions have to be clarified jointly with the suppliers, reveals the association’s press release. Following thorough investigations, the use of the new chemical refrigerants known to date will not be pursued any further as an alternative.