mobile air conditioning unit

Climate | Energy

Mobile air conditioning in rail vehicles

modern high speed train in the city in winter

Rail vehicles include local and long-distance trains, suburban fast trains, underground trains and trams. The energy for heating is provided electrically or with diesel fuel. Mobile air conditioning systems in rail vehicles are usually charged with HFC refrigerants. HFCs, or hydrofluorocarbons, are very potent greenhouse gases. read more

Climate | Energy

Climate friendly mobile air conditioning for buses

a black and yellow bus of the BVG with inscription "CO2"

Buses are eco-friendly means of transport, nevertheless their climate performance can be increased still further. Today’s mobile air conditioning systems in buses still use the refrigerant tetrafluoroethane (R134a), a greenhouse gas with a 1,430 times higher impact to the climate than carbon dioxide. There is a climate friendly alternative: Some city buses already use CO2 air conditioning systems. read more

Climate | Energy

Mobile air conditioning with fluorinated refrigerants

The photo shows that the fluorinated refrigerant 1234yf burned during the laboratory test.

An EU directive bans the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases with global warming potential exceeding 150 for mobile air conditioning systems in motor vehicles since January 2011. Thus the current refrigerant tetrafluoroethane (R134a) has to be replaced. Tests in laboratory and car showed that the new refrigerant 1234yf selected by car industry can lead to fires. read more

Climate | Energy

Mobile air conditioning in cars, buses and railway vehicles

An EU directive has banned the use of fluorinated refrigerants with a global warming potential of more than 150 in certain mobile air conditioning systems since Jan. 2011. It requires the previously used refrigerant tetrafluoroethane (R134a) to be replaced. Natural refrigerants are considered the best environmental alternative. Climate-friendly alternatives are also available for buses and trains. read more

Climate | Energy

Mobile air conditioning with climate-friendly refrigerant CO2

Silver VW Touran in front of the UBA headquarters.

An EU directive has banned the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases with global warming potential exceeding 150 in mobile air conditioning systems since January 2011. CO2 used as a refrigerant is an alternative. An UBA official car had used a CO2 mobile air conditioning system from 2009 to 2017. Since October 2016, first cars with CO2 air conditioning systems have been offered. read more

The Umweltbundesamt

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