Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Mobile Air Conditioners in the EU

1. Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Mobile Air Conditioners in the EU Dr. Matti Vainio, Principal Administrator European Commission, DG Environment 2002 SAE Automotive Alternate Refrigerant Systems Symposium Scottsdale 9 July 2002

2. Outline • Environmental impact of mobile air conditioning • European Commission’s agenda • current legislation • legislation in the pipeline • options for additional action • Comments on the options • Next steps • Caveat: Impact of heat-pump operation not covered in this presentation (but should be)

3. Introduction • Mobile air conditioners are penetrating the EU car fleet very fast. • Many are concerned about the potential environmental impact of this. • EU’s Environment ministers asked the European Commission “study and prepare measures in reduction of all greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning in vehicles".(10 October 2000) • Do to do this well, we need good co-operation with industry experts, and among regulators in the the US, Japan and elsewhere...

4. What are the environmental impacts of mobile air conditioners? • At manufacturing stage • various - not covered here • CO2 emissions due to extra weight • Leakage of HFC (1300 more potent than CO2) • during use, servicing of equipment, accidents, component failures etc. • HFC emissions at the end-of-life • Additional fuel consumption at operation stage • large variations between Lapland and Crete

5. The problem • By 2010, greenhouse gas emissions could be even higher than 50 Mt of CO2 eq in the European Union • assuming a lifetime leakage of rate is 15% or 120 g p.a. • 7% of all greenhouse gas emission from EU’s road sector … or equivalent of 24 grams of CO2 per kilometre • Note average CO2 emissions of the European car fleet are targeted to be 140 grams per km by 2008. • Agreement with EU-manufacturers equivalent to about 36 mpg or about 30% better than CAFE standard • Situation could be even worse if lifetime leakage rate are 300 gr per annum as could be the case “No R&R” (Atkinson & Baker, 2002)

6. Life leakage of HFC-134a (300gr/year) (150/year) (120gr/year) Source: Atkinson and Baker (2002) Mobile Air Conditioning Systems and the Environment

7. GHG emissions (grams CO2 eq per km of R-134a) under different assumptions (150/year) Note: Energy efficiency of MACs is assumed to be constant in these alternatives Leakage rates: 40 gr/year 80gr/year 120 gr/year

8. Legal Basis for EU wide action: the Amsterdam Treaty • According to the Treaty, (which is the “constitution” of the European Communities) the European Commission makes legislative proposals for products that are sold throughout the EU - Main legal instruments are • Regulations • which need no transposition to national legislation • Directives • which need to be transposed to each Member States legislation

9. European Agenda • End-of-Life Vehicle Directive, (transposed by 21 April 2002) requires recovery of R-134a • Modify EC Regulation on Ozone Depleting Substances to contain fluorinated gases • Commission proposal by the end of 2002 • Handling refrigerants (from vehicle production to after- market service and repairs) • Minimum requirements for training levels of personnel who handle refrigerants • Design equipment to be as leak proof as possible

10. Agenda: Options to reduce GHG emissions from Mobile Air Conditioners Positive CO2 and HFC effects • Having no MAC • Discouraging the purchase of MACs • “climate” charge on mobile air conditioners (regardless the refrigerant based on total CO2 eq emission) • Unbundling of the price of mobile air conditioner from the price of the vehicle • leaving the choice to consumer • Reducing the charge in MACs

11. Agenda: Options…Positive CO2 effect (no HFC effect) • Making minimum energy requirements for MACs • Making minimum requirements to the controls of MACs • Making consumers knowledgeable about the additional fuel consumption • Including the effect of MAC to test cycles … and subsequently to the label displayed describing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions • Including the effect of MAC to each cars digital display e.g. as part of fuel consumption information

12. Agenda: Options…Positive HFC effect (no CO2 effect) • Make minimum technical (design) requirements MACs to reduce leakage • Lifetime warranty? • Note: EPA requires already now all US cars to meet the environmental standards up to 100,000 miles (160,000 km) • Make leak detection as easy as possible • include a marker/smell/dye with HFC-134a (smell for CO2?) • design MAC systems for easy detection and repair • Inform consumers about the leakage of MACs • Leakage rate information when purchasing the car • Leakage detectors with a display Check Air Conditioner

13. Agenda: Options...Positive HFC effect (What about effect on CO2?) • Have alternative coolants to replace HFC-134a • Phase out the use of HFC-134a • Set a “climate levy” on each HFC-134a MAC • Set a “climate levy” on the coolant • €20/tCO2 eq would imply a charge of €15 per kg of HFC-134a • Set a “climate subsidy” to introduce alternative coolants • Industry commitment/voluntary agreement to phase out the use of HFC-134a • in the EU and in the world

14. Efficiency and safety of alternative coolants Cost-effectiveness of MACs based on alternative coolants Does a MAC with alternative coolant cost more if mass produced, and if so how much? European, US and Japanese manufacturers set the de facto standards in the world Leakage of HFC in the OECD countries may be much lower than in non-OECD (non-Annex 1) countries Thus, the European Commission is part of the Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership Some comments

15. Additional fuel consumpt-ion of MACs remains a problem in any case Efficiency needs to be raised considerably EU’s Motor Challenge Programme gives support MACs in trucks and buses: uncharted territory? Consumer is the king/queen and has to make informed choices Should the effect of MAC on fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission at purchasing stage (Directive 1999/94/EC) be given? Some comments... http://energyefficiency.jrc.cec.eu.int/motorchallenge/index.htm

16. Next steps • Transposition and implementation of the End-of-Life Directive • Proposal for the Regulation on handling of refrigerants • Three studies in 2002 • Handling of fluorinated gases (including HFC-134a) • Fuel consumption • study carried out by TNO to be finished by end of 2002 • Study to establish leakage rate(s) • study carried out by Öko-Recherche and Ecofys to be finished by end of 2002

17. Next steps... • Conference on the Options to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions due to Mobile Air Conditioning • In 10-11 February 2003 in Brussels • Focus on technical options and policy recommendations • Aim is to be able to decide on action after the Conference • Clarify issues on that to reduce the environmental impact of MACs: • Extent of environmental impact: lifetime leakage, additional fuel consumption … including trucks and buses • Cost and safety of alternative systems … in the EU, elsewhere and in particular in developing countries

18. Conference on the Options… (cont.) • Four key presentations from industry (working titles): • Tightening of the HFC-134a system • CO2 as the alternative coolant • HFC-152a as the alternative coolant • Hydrocarbons as the alternative coolant • Also other presentations • see draft programme • Small Organising Committee: Regulators and industry experts • If interested in contributing or helping to organise the Conference, please contact Matti.Vainio@cec.eu.int and Andersen.Stephen@.epa.gov

19. Let’s trade places for a minute With your very detailed knowledge of the environmental consequences of MACs: What would you consider smartest policy options to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions of MACs? Welcome to Brussels on 10-11 February 2003! Thank you!