New electric vehicle refrigerant means greater driving range
Japanese air conditioner manufacturer, Daikin Industries, has developed a refrigerant for electric vehicles (EVs) that could extend range by up to 50%, wit1t the product scheduled to go on sale by 2025.
In extreme temperatures, EV cabin temperature regulation uses significant amounts of power from an EV’s battery. Daikin’s new product is a major advancement, making air conditioning systems more efficient and boosting an EV’s driving range. Daikin’s new refrigerant has a boiling point of around minus 40 degrees Celsius, 10 to 15 degrees lower than the product currently used by EV makers worldwide. As a result, the new product reduces the power required for compression, saving electricity and allowing the EV to cover a longer distance on a full charge. By 2025, global EV production is predicted to rise to 11 .84 million units, 5.3 times higher than in 2020 and advancements like this continue to increase EV’s appeal.
HFC Phasedown
Australia will begin the next step in its phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HF Cs) on 1 January 2022.
Annual quota for import of bulk HFCs will reduce to 6.25 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (C02-e) for 2022 and 2023, down from 7.25 million tonnes C02-e in 2021.
Import data indicates a reduction of imports of bulk R134a and R410a. R404a and R407c are steady, while R32 imports are increasing. The data also shows a move away from imports of equipment using higher global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, eg R134a (GWP 1430) and R41 Oa (GWP 2088), and an increase in imports of equipment using lower global warming potential refrigerant R32 (GWP 675).
These import trends highlight the overall move to lower GWP options, with ongoing availability of a variety of refrigerants for servicing of existing equipment.
Going from strength to strength
Over the years, thanks to strong _ support from our licensees and industry partners, the ARC has continued to grow in numbers and reputation. In the year to 30 June 2021, ARC issued more than 8500 refrigerant handling licenses (RH Ls) and refrigerant trading authorisations (RTAs) to successful applicants, taking our network to more than 110,000.
At the ARC, we’re committed to providing ongoing benefit to licensed technicians and the community through day-to-day support, education programs and consumer information campaigns. Increased public recognition and understanding of our industry and its impact on the environment and modern society remains a primary goal of the ARC, along with improving technician safety, training pathways and standards.
