Germany. Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz automaker, said it will not use the new HFO R1234yf refrigerant in its air conditioning systems for vehicles and wants to continue using the R134a.
As a result of its own independent safety tests, the German car and truck manufacturer increased its safety concerns with the use of the new replacement coolant for the R134a.
While concerns had previously been raised – particularly in Germany – regarding its "mild" flammability, R1234yf was to be used globally in the automotive industry and was previously perceived to be safe. This was determined by numerous laboratory and crash tests carried out by international vehicle manufacturers and independent institutions.
"In the new real test scenario, the coolant is dynamically dispersed at high pressure close to the hot components of the exhaust system of the test vehicle. This corresponds to a serious head-on collision in which the coolant line is cut off and the reproducible results demonstrate that the coolant, which is otherwise difficult to ignite under laboratory conditions, can in fact become flammable in a hot engine compartment," the report says.
Daimler says tests on the R134a did not result in ignition.
