Honeywell, a Fortune 100 technology company, has introduced a new hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant for the European automotive aftermarket, Solstice 456A. The new refrigerant has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases caused by vehicle air conditioning systems by over 50 percent. Solstice 456A is for use in vehicles manufactured before 2017 and performs similarly to R-134A, meaning it can help vehicle owners and auto shops to meet continuing climate-related legislation from the EU.
“With more than 200 million cars on the roads in Europe still using R-134A, there is a need in the market for a sustainable and economical product to support auto repair shops servicing these vehicles,” said Rick Winick, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Automotive Refrigerants. “Solstice 456A is an ASHRAE A1-classified, nonflammable, easy-to-use refrigerant that can easily be adopted to work with existing AC service machines and tools.”
Those utilizing the Solstice refrigerant have avoided potentially releasing over 260 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equivalent to intentionally eliminating the emissions from over 56 million cars for a year. Later in 2022, the refrigerant will be commercially available to the European automotive aftermarket.
Honeywell's Solstice product line includes refrigerants for supermarkets, air conditioning for vehicles, blowing agents for insulation, propellants for personal and household care, and solvents for cleaning solutions. This technology not only lowers greenhouse gas emissions but also improves energy efficiency without sacrificing performance.
