Emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2006/40/EC on emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It introduces EU-wide rules to cut emissions from motor vehicle air-conditioning systems* and provides for the gradual prohibition of air-conditioning systems designed to contain fluorinated gases with a global warming potential (GWP)* higher than 150.
It thus averts any obstacles which may arise, within the EU’s internal market, from the adoption by EU countries of different technical requirements on this aspect.
It forms part of the EU’s vehicle type-approval procedure.
It complements EU legislation to reduce fluorinated greenhouse gases in line with the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol.

KEY POINTS

Technical rules

The directive sets rules for controlling leakages from air-conditioning systems designed to contain greenhouse gases with a GWP higher than 150. Such systems are therefore banned by a transitional measure, unless the rate of leakage from that system does not exceed the maximum permissible limits. This measure applies to all new vehicle types as from 21 June 2008 and to new vehicles from 21 June 2009.
As a second stage, it introduces a total ban on air-conditioning systems designed to contain fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP higher than 150. The ban covers all new vehicle types from 1 January 2011 and applies to all new vehicles from 1 January 2017.
It also lays down rules on the retrofitting and refilling of air-conditioning systems.

Scope

The directive covers passenger cars (category M1 vehicles) and light commercial vehicles (category N1, class 1 vehicles).
It is the first stage of a legislative package on air-conditioning systems. Regulation (EC) No 706/2007 sets the administrative rules concerning the EU type-approval procedure and a harmonised leakage detection test in order to measure the leakage rate of fluorinated gases with a global warming potential higher than 150.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 4 July 2006 and had to become law in the EU countries by 3 January 2008.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Directives and regulations on motor vehicles, their trailers, systems and components (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Air-conditioning system: any system whose main purpose is to decrease the air temperature and humidity of the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Global warming potential (GWP): the climatic warming potential of a fluorinated greenhouse gas relative to that of carbon dioxide. It is calculated in terms of the 100-year warming potential of one kilogram of a gas relative to one kilogram of CO₂. The relevant GWP figures are those published in the third assessment report adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001 IPCC GWP values).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 relating to emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC (OJ L 161, 14.6.2006, pp. 12-18)