Refrigerants, or air conditioner gases, are often chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). This is because they are chemically stable, nonflammable, nontoxic, among other properties. However, if they are released into the atmosphere, they can accelerate global warming. For this reason, the use of this CFC-based refrigerant, called R134a, has been banned in Europe for use in all new vehicles since 2017. In Japan, it has already been banned for use in new passenger cars.
These factors have led to a need for alternative substances, and alternative refrigerants called “R-1234yf” and “R744” have emerged. The use of R1234yf has been approved in European countries, and it was expected to become the leading refrigerant in the future. Meanwhile, R744 is a carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigerant, which has the advantages of being odorless, non-flammable, and highly safe. This has been adopted by some German automotive manufacturers for their vehicles. However, R744 refrigerant must be kept at a very high pressure, and it is a challenge to make sturdy parts that can withstand that pressure at a low cost.
Here at Sanden, we have already mass-produced systems using R-1234yf. We call our air conditioning systems employing heat pumps “ITMS 1.0,” and heat pumps that include heat management for batteries and drive motors “ITMS 2.0.”

Yes. R-1234yf has seen widespread use around the world as an environmentally friendly refrigerant, but in Europe, there is a proposal* to regulate organic fluorine compounds (PFAS), and R1234yf is expected to fall under these regulations. PFAS can remain in the environment for long periods of time, and they have become an issue of growing concern across a range of industries.
The future of PFAS regulations is still uncertain, but we and other players in the automotive industry are taking steps to address the issue. There are several alternatives, one of which is a natural refrigerant known as R290, which uses propane. Propane is a highly flammable hydrocarbon, often used as LP gas. It can be used at lower pressures than carbon dioxide and has a lower environmental impact. However, because it is highly flammable and explosive, as well as being odorless, if it leaks into the cabin, users may not notice, and it could be ignited by things like cigarettes. This flammability means that when using R290, you cannot use a standard air conditioning design, in which refrigerant is drawn into the cabin. As such, we are developing ITMS 3.0, a highly efficient thermal management system that uses R290 safely.

*In February 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a new draft proposal for regulating organic fluorine compounds (PFAS).