ShareFrance allows Daimler to continue to use R134a in its MAC systems.
The French Supreme Court has upheld last August’s decision to overturn the MAC (Mobile air conditioning) directive and allows Daimler to continue to use R134a in its car air conditioning systems.
The French Supreme Court has upheld last August’s decision to overturn the MAC (Mobile air conditioning) directive allowing Daimler to continue to use R134a in its car air conditioning systems.
After an appeal from Mercedes-Benz France, the Court annulled the French Environment Ministry’s blocking of the registration of Daimler cars for a maximum of six months.
Though vehicles sold in the EU were mandated to use R1234yf beginning in 2013, Daimler cited potential, unacceptable safety issues with the new refrigerant. Instead, the automaker continued to use R134a in its A-Class, B-Class, CLA and SL models, which were the vehicles banned from being sold in France and planned to replace the outgoing refrigerant with CO2 systems by 2017.
The Supreme Court decided that Daimler’s continued use of R134a would not cause serious harm to the environment or public health.
The French Environment Ministry argued that the emissions produced during the life of the 4,500 blocked vehicles would amount to 2,800 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and risk that other manufacturers follow the same route.
The judge decided that the 6% of new models registered in 2013 using R1234yf represented a tiny proportion of just 1.74 % of all vehicles registered and blocking the registration of R134a cars was not sufficient to be considered a serious harm to the environment.
Despite the court ruling, Honeywell called for a speedy enforcement of the MAC Directive, arguing that the safety of 1234yf had been proven repeatedly.
After an appeal from Mercedes-Benz France, the Court annulled the French Environment Ministry’s blocking of the registration of Daimler cars for a maximum of six months.
Though vehicles sold in the EU were mandated to use R1234yf beginning in 2013, Daimler cited potential, unacceptable safety issues with the new refrigerant. Instead, the automaker continued to use R134a in its A-Class, B-Class, CLA and SL models, which were the vehicles banned from being sold in France and planned to replace the outgoing refrigerant with CO2 systems by 2017.
The Supreme Court decided that Daimler’s continued use of R134a would not cause serious harm to the environment or public health.
The French Environment Ministry argued that the emissions produced during the life of the 4,500 blocked vehicles would amount to 2,800 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and risk that other manufacturers follow the same route.
The judge decided that the 6% of new models registered in 2013 using R1234yf represented a tiny proportion of just 1.74 % of all vehicles registered and blocking the registration of R134a cars was not sufficient to be considered a serious harm to the environment.
Despite the court ruling, Honeywell called for a speedy enforcement of the MAC Directive, arguing that the safety of 1234yf had been proven repeatedly.