Chemours supports auto industry call for extended F-gas transition period in EU
Chemicals company Chemours backs the automotive industry's request to extend the transition period for fluorinated refrigerants in new car air conditioning systems beyond 2040. The industry cites the need for science-based timelines.
Wilmington, Delaware – The Chemours Company, a global chemical firm, has declared its full support for the automotive industry's demand to prolong the transition period for fluorinated gases (F-gases) used in vehicle air conditioning (MAC) systems. This comes in response to the European Union's proposed PFAS restriction.
Automotive industry bodies, including ACEA, JAMA, MAHLE, and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), have submitted that a transition period of at least 13 years is necessary for new electric light-duty vehicles and 20 years for all other vehicle types. The industry attributes this to the absence of direct replacements for the current MAC refrigerant, R-1234yf.
Joseph Martinko, President of Chemours' Thermal & Specialized Solutions division, stated that Chemours joins automotive representatives in calling for a realistic, science-based transition timeline. He emphasized that next-generation refrigerant solutions require extensive development, validation, and scaling before responsible deployment. Martinko noted that the previous transition from R-134a to R-1234yf, which required minimal system modifications, took over 15 years.
Currently, only propane (R-290) and carbon dioxide (R-744) are under evaluation as PFAS-free alternatives for MAC applications. The industry highlights significant hurdles for both. Propane's high flammability presents safety and regulatory challenges, particularly in markets like the United States. CO2 systems necessitate substantially different architectures and higher operating pressures, potentially increasing energy consumption and design complexity. Both technologies would require a complete redesign and validation cycle.