May 2020

B road changes in the car parc are having an impact on many aspects of the vehicle, including air conditioning systems. Simon Ravenscroft, Northern Regional Sales Manager at National Refrigerants commented: “There has never been so much heightened awareness and a willingness to work together to clean up our planet and provide a better future for our children and generations to follow. “2019 saw European sales of electric cars almost double. Going into more detail, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales increased by 91% year over year, while plug in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales increased 81% year over year.” Going green On the impact on the specifics of air conditioning, Simon pointed out: “We are not just changing the fuels that our cars run on but also what cools them. In 2017 all cars produced in Europe had to change their air-conditioning gas to a more environmentally friendly product. “The old gas R134A has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1,430 so with carbon dioxide at just 1. It wasn’t very good for the planet. The new environmentally friendly alternative, Solstice yf, has a GWP of just 4.” Simon added: “When a car A/C system needs re- charging, be certain to look for National Solstice R1234yf.” On dealing with air conditioning systems that seem to be low on refrigerant, Simon observed: “If a car appears to have developed a leak in the A/C system, then the system could need repairing, not just topping up with more gas. If an A/C system needs topping up you should get it leak tested first. To check if there is a leak, garages need to perform one of two tasks. They can perform a leak check on the system, or they can remove all A/C gas and weigh it to see if it is below the recommended charge limit.” Greater role As we have seen, the shift in the car parc is impacting on A/C systems, and elements of the system are now playing an even more central role in the running of vehicles. Jonathan Walker, Managing Director of MAHLE Aftermarket commented: “MAHLE as a company has been at the forefront of pioneering electric air conditioning compressors. This new technology is primarily used in electric vehicles. The e-compressor is used to not only cool the vehicle cabin, but also the battery. This highlights the importance of a functional A/C system in electric and hybrid vehicles. If the A/C system were to fail, the vehicle would not operate due to the safety risk posed by the battery overheating. “Additionally, the compressor plays a crucial role in battery thermal management, extending range, maintaining battery service life, and allowing for shorter charging times. “MAHLE views the revolutionary potential of the e- compressor at a similar level to the introduction of their aluminium piston nearly 100 years ago. The impact of this technology on electric vehicles and hybrid mobility is significant, but the engineering required spans multiple areas.” Key component Jonathan continued: “The e-compressor represents a key component of MAHLE’s Integrated Thermal System (ITS), which is at the forefront of OEM electric vehicle projects. In cold weather, most electric vehicles currently use electrically powered heating solutions to warm the cabin and battery. However, the ITS uses a vehicle’s refrigerant system to transfer thermal energy into coolant, which can then be used elsewhere in the vehicle. This can improve EV cruising range by between 7% and 20%.” On the impact on garages, Jonathan observed: “The introduction of this new technology poses a challenge to many workshops who will require extra training in order to work on vehicles with e-compressors. This is because the units run off high voltage systems that are much more dangerous to work on, and much more complex than standard thermal management systems. Direct-current voltage of over 200 volts is used to generate the right amount of torque to drive the electric compressor, which is a very high voltage for this sector.” Support Changes in A/C tech, and the introduction of R134a mean training will continue to be vital. Adam White, Workshop Solutions Director at Euro Car Parts, commented: “While the majority or air conditioning machines will all operate and work in a similar fashion, we do recommend that technicians complete dedicated refrigerant handling 42 AFTERMARKET MAY 2020 AIR CONDITIONING AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT www.aftermarketonline.net COOL ASSESSMENT When cooling systems require care and attention, make sure you are ready and able to support your customers Right: Techs need to follow the right procedure when fitting an A/C compressor

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