Mobile air-conditioning systems (MACs)

The European Directive on mobile air-conditioning systems (MACs) aims at reducing emissions of specific fluorinated greenhouse gases in the air-conditioning systems fitted to passenger cars (vehicles of category M1) and light commercial vehicles (category N1, class 1).

The main objectives of the Directive are:

the control of leakage of fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential (GWP) higher than 150 in MACs;
the prohibition from a certain date of MACs using those gases

As from 21 June 2008 (12 months from the date of adoption of the test procedure) the manufacturer has been unable to obtain a type approval for a new type of vehicle if it is fitted with MACs designed to contain F-gases with a GWP higher than 150 leaking more than 40 grams per year (one evaporator systems) and 60 grams per year (dual evaporator systems). As from 21 June 2009 this also applies for all new vehicles having been type-approved in the past.

The second phase is the complete ban of MACs designed to use the above mentioned gases. It is effective as from 1 January 2011 for new types of vehicles (the manufacturer will be unable to obtain a type approval for a new type of vehicle if it is fitted with this kind of systems) and as from 1 January 2017 for all new vehicles. From that date on, new vehicles with these systems cannot be registered, sold and enter into service.