July/August 2019

leaks to atmosphere. The average car can hold about 0.5 Kg of gas and the old refrigerant R134A has a GWP of 1,430, to put that into context Co2 is just 1, so every Kg of R134A gas that escapees is equivalent to 1.4 tonnes of Co2. Since January 2017 new cars have been using the much more environmentally friendly alternative R1234yf with a GWP of just 4 which is great news for the environment. With the issue seemingly resolved in the automotive industry steps have been taken to get the other refrigerant markets to use lower GWP products. In 2015 Europe introduced a quota system for those importing or manufacturing fluorinated gases meaning that to import or produce these products in Europe now requires you to hold quota.” It is important to understand that this quota is actually not a Kg based quota but a Co2 equivalent. Simon explains “This means that quota holders can actually make or import over 375 time as much R1234yf as R134A for the same amount of quota which is good news because the quota system has been hit with 15 years of reductions. Today the quota actually sits at less than 63% due extra demand placed on the quota by the introduction of pre-charged equipment in 2017 which had been exempt for two years. Pre-charged equipment is defined as any air-conditioning or refrigerated product manufactured outside of Europe and imported with its refrigerant gas already in it, these manufacturers now have to buy quota from quota holders to cover the refrigerant in their products thus placing extra demand on the already diminishing quota. 2021 will see the next cut at 45% which will no doubt put pressure on supplies of medium to High GWP products of which R134A is one. “If an average car’s life is 10 years that will mean there will still be cars on our roads past 2027 using the old refrigerant R134A, but before then there will be a further cut in 2024 which in turn will likely not just make R134A more expensive but could also be very difficult to source. “It is not as simple as using the new R1234yf in an older R134A car as the new gas has been classified as flammable so can’t be used in an air- conditioning compressor that wasn’t designed for it.” So, what is the solution? “Refrigerant manufacturers know this could be a problem,” says Simon, “so it is likely over the next couple of years they could produce a lower GWP non-flammable product that will keep these cars air conditioning systems running and as National Refrigerants are fully independent and work closely with all the manufacturers we will be on hand to bring any solutions quickly to market.” Simon adds: “For information updates please visit our brand-new web site at www.nationalref.com” Filters Also on the air conditioning side, don’t forget filters. With ever more people suffering from allergies, air conditioning systems provide a welcome breath of fresh air. According to Allergy UK, 44% of UK adults suffer from at least one allergy, with hay fever (allergic rhinitis) affecting up to 30% of adults and 40% of children. Quality air conditioning tackles this issue at source by rendering allergens and bacteria harmless. Despite this, a GiPA survey found that only 11% of drivers had their cabin filters changed in the previous 12 months. “When you consider that Bosch recommends changing them annually or every 9,000 miles,” says Silke Walter, Bosch Product Specialist for filters, Europe North, “the number of untapped sales is substantial.” Bosch’s FILTER+ cabin filters feature three active layers of filtration. Silke explains: “First, an anti-allergy layer with a grid structure to separate pollen and silver ions to kill bacteria. Second, an ultra-fine microfiber layer which retains up to 99% of fine dust up to 2.5 micrometres. Third, an activated-carbon layer to neutralise odours and keep air smelling fresh. “In addition to the valuable health benefits, FILTER+ cabin filters improve safety by reducing windscreen misting and even help to protect the A/C system itself. Bosch offers a comprehensive range of 500+ filters covering 95% of the UK car parc.” Silke continues: “Cabin filters represent an unmissable opportunity for workshops to simultaneously provide great customer service, improve safety and increase revenue, a win-win-win. They are not expensive and usually only take 10 minutes to fit. If you explain the benefits to the customer – the protection against allergies and overall improvement to air quality in the cabin – they should be an easy sell.” To ensure workshops are able to take advantage of this opportunity, Bosch has created a poster containing all of the part numbers, fitting times and component locations for the top 100 best-selling vehicles on the market. For a free copy of the poster, email contact@uk.bosch.com Change There is also some change coming in the cooling world. Following the acquisition of Behr Hella Service (BHS) by MAHLE Aftermarket, all existing activities of BHS will be transferred to MAHLE on 1 January 2020. In the future, products will be offered under the BEHR sales brand. Current customers of BHS can order the products using familiar part numbers, even after 1 January 2020. They will remain in place throughout a transition period, while MAHLE part numbers are implemented in parallel. “As an OEM, MAHLE has enormous expertise in the area of thermal management, and now our customers in the aftermarket business segment will also see increased benefits,” explains Olaf Henning, Corporate Executive Vice President and General Manager MAHLE Aftermarket. MAHLE will also provide customers with support in the e-mobility market. Thermal management is a central prerequisite for the reliable operation of electrically powered vehicles, as it significantly influences efficiency. “E-mobility will present workshops in particular with new challenges in the medium term,” says Olaf. “We can now offer them targeted support with the expertise from our OEM business and provide the right solutions, by identifying a component with the correct diagnostic systems and delivering technical training and information on repairs and maintenance.” 42 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2019 COOLING www.aftermarketonline.net Below: Dayco timing kit with water pump Below: Brembo Brakes