SNAP Stakeholder Workshop: 

Heavy-Duty Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

November 18, 2015
Welcome and Introductions

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Climate Action Plan: HFCs

 Continue international diplomacy

 Lead negotiations under the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs

 Global phase down could reduce over 90 gigatons of CO2eq by 

2050, equal to roughly two years worth of current global GHG emissions 

 Work with partners in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce ShortLived Climate Pollutants to promote climate-friendly alternatives to highGWP HFCs, address technical standards, and reduce emissions from HFC use 

 Address HFCs through domestic actions

 Use existing Clean Air Act authority of Significant New Alternatives Policy 

(SNAP) Program to approve climate-friendly chemicals, prohibit some uses of 

most harmful

• Provide federal leadership by purchasing cleaner 

alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible and by 

transitioning to equipment using safe, more 

sustainable alternatives

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Scope of Meeting

 Background 

 Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program 

 Overview of Recent Actions & Future Considerations 

 Climate-friendly Alternatives for Heavy-Duty Motor Vehicle Air 

Condition Systems 

 Discussion 

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• Acceptable - those that reduce overall risk to human health & environment

• Acceptable with use restrictions - if needed to ensure safe use

• Unacceptable

Evaluates alternatives & lists alternatives as:

• Aerosols; Foams; Refrigeration and A/C; Solvents; Fire 

Suppression; Adhesives, Coatings, Inks, etc.

Sectors include:

• Ozone Depletion Potential

• Global Warming Potential

• Flammability

• Toxicity

Considers: 

• Local Air Quality

• Ecosystem Effects

• Occupational & Consumer 

Health/Safety 5
SNAP Actions

2014-2015

 Issued two acceptability 

notices adding alternatives

 Issued new rule adding 

five low-GWP flammable 

refrigerants with use 

conditions 

 Published Status Change 

Rule prohibiting certain 

HFCs in certain end-uses

 HFC Emissions Reductions: 

54-64 MMTCO2eq in 2025

Near term changes can provide 

both near and long term 

benefits

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July 2015: Change of Status Rule 

• HFC-125 - January 2016

• HFC-227ea & blends - July 20, 2016

• HFC-134a - July 20, 2016/January 1, 2018

Aerosols

• HFC-134a in New Light-Duty Systems - MY 2021

• HCFC & HFC Containing Blends in New Light-Duty 

Systems - MY 2017

Motor Vehicle Air 

Conditioning

• New Supermarket Systems - January 2017

• New Remote Condensing Units - January 2018

• New Vending Machines - January 2019

• New Stand-Alone Units (small medium-temp, large 

medium-temp, low-temp)- January 2019/January 2020

• Retrofitted Retail Food Refrig Equipment and Vending 

Machines - July 20, 2016

Retail Food Refrigeration 

& Vending Machines

• All End-Uses, Except Rigid PU Spray Foam-Various dates 

between January 2017-January 2021

Foams
Change of Status Rule: 

MVAC Refrigerants

July 2015 Change of Status Rule

 HFC-134a unacceptable 

 As of MY 2021

 New, light-duty vehicles only 

 Narrowed use limits finalized for export vehicles 

 Available through MY 2025 

 Limited to vehicles exported to countries lacking infrastructure for 

servicing alternative refrigerants

 Several HFC and HCFC refrigerant blends unacceptable 

 As of MY 2017

 New, light-duty vehicles only

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September 11 

Stakeholder Meeting

 EPA considering proposed rule that could include:

 Listing acceptable alternatives with use conditions

 MVAC: HFO-1234yf acceptable for limited heavy-duty (HD) 

vehicle types

 Other refrigeration & air conditioning end-uses for flammable and highly 

flammable refrigerants; Fire suppression: e.g., streaming agent for aviation 

 Listing of unacceptable alternatives

 Certain HC and HC blends for stationary AC retrofits and MVAC systems

 Change of listing status from acceptable to unacceptable

 EPA considering later transition dates than in July 20th final rule

 End-uses based on stakeholder comments, EPA analysis

 Refrigeration and A/C

 Rigid PU spray foam

9  Fire suppression
Climate-Friendly Alternatives 

for HD MVAC Systems

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 CO2 (R-744) and HFC-152a are listed as acceptable, subject to use 

conditions, in all new MVAC systems, including HD

 HFO-1234yf listed as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in 

newly manufactured passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in 

2011

 EPA is considering to propose listing HFO-1234yf acceptable, 

subject to use conditions, for limited HD vehicle types e.g.,: 

 Medium-duty passenger vehicles

 HD pickup trucks

 Complete HD vans

 Seeking stakeholder input
MVAC Applications & 

Terminology

MVAC Includes:

 Light-duty vehicles

 HD vehicles

 Off-road vehicles

 Buses

 Passenger Rail 

Terminology used by Heavy-Duty Greenhouse Gas Program

 HD pick-up trucks and vans

 Vocational vehicles and trucks

 Commercial medium and heavy-duty on-highway vehicles (i.e., trailertrucks; combination tractors)

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HD Vehicle Classifications by 

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Class 2b 3 4 5 6 7 8

GVWR 

(lb)

8,501 -

10,000

10,001-

14,000

14,001-

16,000

16,001-

19,500

19,501 -

26,000

26,001-

33,000

> 33,000
Open Dialogue –

Questions and Answers
Discussion Questions

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 EPA reviews substitutes on an end-use by end-use basis (or by application 

within an end-use). EPA believes it has sufficient information at this time 

to move forward with a proposed SNAP listing for HFO-1234yf for 

certain but not all heavy-duty (HD) vehicle types. Recognizing that a 

proposed rule that included a listing decision for all vehicle types would 

take additional time, should EPA move forward more narrowly today?

 What barriers do companies face for a transition to lower-GWP 

alternatives in HD and off-road vehicles? 

 Which vehicle types might be early adopters? 

 Which vehicle types, if any, might face technical barriers to transition? 

 And, what benefits could be expected from making a transition?
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 In what situations and how often are the OEM-installed MVAC systems 

altered by secondary or tertiary manufacturers for HD vans? Vocational 

vehicles? Tractor-trailers? 

 Are MVAC systems in these vehicles altered in the aftermarket? 

 What types of alterations would be made? Would they affect the amount of 

refrigerant or the likelihood of refrigerant leaks?

 EPA's understanding is that the MVAC systems for medium-duty passenger 

vans, HD pickup trucks, and complete HD vans are substantially the same as 

those for light-duty (LD) vehicles. Do other HD vehicle types also have 

MVAC system configurations similar to those used in LD vehicles?

 How can SNAP continue to help “encourage private-sector investment in 

low-emissions technology?”

Discussion Questions