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Now official: VDA picks CO2 air conditioning |
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All German carmakers will use CO2 (R744) in future air conditioning systems, the industry association VDA has officially confirmed in a press release today. This decision sets the pace for other carmakers to follow suit.
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2007-09-06
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As announced by R744.com on 27 July, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has confirmed the joint decision of the German car industry to choose the natural refrigerant CO2 (R-744) for next-generation air conditioning. With this "breakthrough in climate technology", the Germans are showing the way to other carmakers worldwide.
"With this joint step the German car manufacturers are taking the global lead in climate friendly refrigerants and putting into action their strategy for sustainable mobility," VDA President Matthias Wissmann states in the official press release.
Given that other proposed chemical alternatives are no longer considered by the German car industry, manufacturers and suppliers will now intensify talks to keep improving CO2 Mobile Air Conditioning systems.
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Taking the environmental lead
The German car industry decided to opt for CO2 to reduce "an air conditioning's direct global warming effect by a factor higher than 1,000 compared to current technology", the VDA press release explains. In addition, by choosing R744, the German manufacturers will be well below the GWP (Global Warming Potential) limit of 150 required in the EU for new refrigerants as from 2011 on. With an GWP of only 1, CO2 is the most environmentally friendly option available.
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Background
The VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie) represents more than 580 companies and 750,000 employees in the automotive and supplier industry in Germany. The VDA groups all major German carmakers, including Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler AG, Porsche, and Volkswagen.
Next steps
R744.com will be reporting from the Frankfurt Auto Show next week on further announcements and developments regarding CO2 Mobile Air Conditioning.
Alvaro de Oña
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More information:
 VDA Press Release, 6 September 2007 (GERMAN) (24 KB)
› VDA press release - website (ENGLISH)
› Read the article: "BMW chooses CO2 air conditioning, media reports", 05 Sep
› Read the article: "German carmakers choose R744", 27 July
› Read the article: "Carmakers end research on chemicals, VDA confirms ", 1 Aug
Reactions
› Deutsche Umwelthilfe - Press Release, 6 September (GERMAN)
› Greenpeace Germany - News Release, 6 September (GERMAN)
Media Coverage
› Spiegel-Online.de: "Deutsche Hersteller verbannen klimaschädliches Kühlmittel"
› Handelsblatt.de: "Klima-Killer verschwindet aus Auto-Klimanlagen"
› n-tv.de: "Dank CO2 klimafreundlicher"
› WirtschaftsWoche.de: "Autohersteller einig über umweltfreundliche Klimaanlagen"
› Basler Zeitung: "Bald umweltfreundlichere Klimaanlagen in deutschen Autos"
› Frankfurter Rundschau: "Greenpeace lobt Autolobby - Neue Klimaanlagen
"
› Autohaus.de: "Deutsche Autohersteller machen Klimaanlagen umweltschonender"
› Dailynet.de: "Umweltverträgliche Klimaanlagen:
VDA-Präsident Wissmann..."
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