ACtion Magazine - January/February 2013 - (Page 18)

MACS letter to European Commission by Elvis Hoffpauir, President MACS Worldwide In light of the Daimler announcement on September 25, 2012 renouncing the use of HFO-1234yf, on November 7, 2012, the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide (MACS) sent a letter to the EU Commission responsible for implementation of EU Directive 2006/40. This directive requires vehicle manufacturers, who wish to sell in Europe, to transition to Low Global Warming Refrigerants with a target completion date in 2017. This transition in Europe in no way marks an end to the use of R134a but takes additional controlled steps forward to reduce the impact that the global vehicle market has on the environment. While there are currently no concurrent requirements in the United States, the use of Low Global Warming Refrigerants is rewarded with vehicle emission credits to the automakers. How this affects our membership. The entirety of the MACS membership is affected by the European Nov. 7, 2012 Mr. Philippe Jean Head of Unit Automotive Industry DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission 45 Avenue d’Auderghem 1040 Brussels, Belgium Mr. Jean: I am writing on behalf of the membership of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS). Founded in 1981, MACS is the leading non-profit trade association for the mobile air conditioning, heating and engine cooling system segment of the automotive aftermarket. MACS represents a growing membership in North America and 33 countries around the world, and is affiliated with MAC Partners (Europe) and the Vehicle Air Conditioning Specialists of Australia. Our organization has a long history of environmental stewardship in reducing emissions from mobile air conditioners through innovative servicing techniques. MACS and its members are also involved with SAE International and have supported the environmental activities that were used to develop engineering equipment standards that helped in the international transition from ODP refrigerants in mobile air conditioning systems. This has included refrigerant recovery/recycle and other service equipment that facilitated the transition from CFC-12 to HFC-134a refrigerant and provided the latest technologies for the use of HFO-1234yf. Over the last six years, our tool, equipment and component supplier members have also dedicated their best efforts to developing new technologies that reduce refrigerant emission and help the industry meet the mandate of EU Directive 2006/40/EC (17 May 2006). More recently, MACS and its tool, equipment and component supplier members have helped develop new technologies and SAE standards that further reduce refrigerant emissions when servicing mobile air conditioning systems. New service equipment includes greatly improved refrigerant leak detection tools to identify even smaller leaks and recovery/recycling equipment which must remove a minimum of 95 percent of the refrigerant from a system during normal servicing and when the vehicle is salvaged at end of life. Since the newer MAC systems have smaller refrigerant charge amount requirements, the new equipment requires accurate control when recharging refrigerant into the system. The latter activities were voluntary on the part of the tool and equipment manufacturers, not mandated by law or government regulation. Our tool, equipment and component supplier members have also supported the SAE International Cooperative Research Program and have committed extensive time and resources to provide service solutions for a range of low global warming refrigerants options that were under consideration by the industry. MACS and its members have also helped develop an extensive training program based upon the requirements of the new SAE J2845: R-1234yf (HFO1234yf) and R-744 Technician Training for Service and Containment of Refrigerants Used in Mobile A/C Systems (Oct 04, 2011). Of these refrigerant options that were evaluated, HFO-134yf has been extensively tested, using proven scientific methods, by prestigious industry organizations, independent laboratories and a group of 15 global vehicle manufacturers organized by SAE International in an industry Cooperative Research Program. At the conclusion of this testing, all of the participants expressed their satisfaction that HFO-1234yf could be used in MAC systems. While the choice of refrigerant to meet the mandate of the EU directive can only be made by the vehicle manufacturers, it is important that the 2006 mandate be observed without any further delay. If a firm mandate suddenly becomes infinitely flexible, then our members will lose confidence in the process, and it will be more difficult for them to commit resources to support future initiatives. We ask that the EU hold to their strong record of environmental leadership and take any and all actions necessary to see that the EU Directive 2006/40/EC (17 May 2006) is enforced post haste now that compliant refrigerants, meeting internationally recognized standards, are freely available in the marketplace. Should you have any questions regarding the MACS activities please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Elvis L. Hoffpauir President and COO elvis@macsw.org 215/631-7020 x 303 Directives. For the service sector, an organized transition to a common refrigerant is very important. Without a common fluid, vehicle manufacturers would likely choose from a variety of options that our service sector members would need to prepare for at a very high expense. Imagine needing to invest in four, five or even six sets of equipment to service vehicle A/C system for anyone who services “All Makes and Models”. For our manufacturing members, many of whom were asked to develop equipment for the new proposed refrigerant and who have invested significant resources in support of the European Directive, any further delay in the implementation of the directive would cause significant harm to them. Below are copies of the November 7, 2012 letter as well as the November 23, 2012 response from the EU. 18 ACTION • January / February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - January/February 2013

ACtion Magazine - January/February 2013
Table of Contents
Outlook
In Bin
Expansion Valve
Technically RELAY-ted
Under The Southern Cross
Leonard’s Law
MACS Letter to Europe
News & Updates
“if I Ever Build a Shop…”
Valves: Oils, Refrigerants – What to Use?
2012 Pioneer Award Honorees
Virtual View
Association News
New Products & Services
Last Watch

ACtion Magazine - January/February 2013