Honeywell has introduced its “Direct to YF Retrofitting Program” in Europe, designed to help older vehicles that use high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants transition to Solstice® 1234yf, a low-GWP automotive refrigerant. This initiative reflects Honeywell’s dedication to aiding customers in their path toward achieving net zero emissions and aligns with broader energy transition trends.
Currently, over 140 million cars in Europe are equipped with air conditioning systems using R-134a, a refrigerant being phased out under the EU’s F-Gas Regulation. The availability of such F-gases has been cut by two-thirds in the past nine years, with a complete phase-out planned by 2050. As R-134a becomes scarcer and more costly, Honeywell’s Solstice 1234yf provides a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative for servicing these older vehicles.
Richard Winick, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Automotive Refrigerants, stated, “Solstice 1234yf is widely accepted in the automotive industry. Our retrofitting process offers a straightforward, reliable, and high-performance solution for car repair shops across Europe, addressing the urgent need as R-134a is phased out and supporting our commitment to a net zero future.”
The five-step Direct to YF Retrofitting Program is designed for easy implementation in service garages using standard tools and equipment. The process involves removing the R-134a refrigerant, installing new permanent fittings, adding Solstice yf and a new oil/additive, and labeling the vehicle to confirm retrofit completion.
Since its launch over a decade ago, Solstice yf has seen growing global demand and production. Today, over 200 million vehicles use Solstice yf, which has helped avoid more than 106 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 123 million acres of U.S. forests in a year.
