Volkswagen has ordered air conditioning systems that use CO2 as a coolant for its VW Phaeton and the Audi A8, according to German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau.
In March 2013, VW, Daimler, Audi, BMW and Porsche originally announced plans to develop CO2 technology as a more climate-friendly refrigerant for air conditioning systems.
VW says CO2 as a refrigerant — also known as R744 — has lower greenhouse gas effects than conventional refrigerants, with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) value of 1, or 99.3 per cent below the European Union-specified GWP limit of 150.
The German automaker says the technology will be rolled out progressively over its entire vehicle fleet.
German media sources have reported four other carmakers — Daimler, Audi, BMW and Porsche — will also switch to CO2 technology in mobile air conditioning systems as an alternative to R-1234yf.
They continue to ignore European Union (EU) demands to use Honeywell's R1234yf, which has a global warming potential that is virtually the same as CO2.
But Daimler claims the refrigerant is not safe and that it can emit toxic hydrogen fluoride gas when it burns, making it a safety hazard.
After safety tests, other European carmakers have switched their newest models to the coolant developed by Honeywell in partnership with Dupont.
"Daimler says there is a safety problem with the new coolant, but we do not see that," a Honeywell spokesperson said.
