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Substitutes in Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

Red car
Related Resources

Q&A on Hydrocarbon Safety for MVACs

MVAC System Servicing

Choosing and Using a Retrofit Refrigerant for a CFC-12 MVAC

Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Refrigerant Transition and Environmental Impacts

Just the Facts for MVACs

Unique Fittings & Label Colors for MVAC Refrigerants

Motor vehicle air conditioners (MVACs) provide comfort cooling for passengers in cars, trucks, buses, planes, trains, and other forms of transportation. The MVAC end-use is unique due to use in widely varying ambient conditions, likelihood of accidents, and the location of a part of the system―the evaporator―inside the passenger compartment. All refrigerants approved for use in MVAC have associated use conditions.

Categories of Equipment

MVAC: Passenger Air Conditioning in Light-Duty, Medium-Duty, Heavy-Duty and Off-Road Vehicles
Air-conditioning systems used to cool passenger compartments in light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty and off-road vehicles are typically charged during vehicle manufacture and the main components are connected by flexible refrigerant lines.

MVAC: Passenger Air Conditioning in Buses and Trains
Air-conditioning systems used to cool passenger compartments in buses and trains are typically manufactured as a separate unit that is pre-charged with refrigerant and installed onto the vehicle in a separate enclosure (e.g., roof mounted). The refrigerant charge for these systems is much larger than those for other MVAC systems.

Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)

  • SNAP Program Overview
  • Regulations
  • Substitute Information by Industrial Sector
    • Substitutes in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
    • Substitutes in Foam Blowing Agents
    • Substitutes in Cleaning Solvents
    • Substitutes in Fire Suppression and Explosion Protection
    • Substitutes in Aerosol Solvents and Propellants
    • Substitutes in Sterilants
    • Substitutes in Tobacco Expansion
    • Substitutes in Adhesives, Coatings, and Inks
  • SNAP Application Information
    • About SNAP Review
    • Submit to SNAP
    • Additional Guidance
  • Unacceptable and Acceptable Substitutes Tables
  • Resources
Contact Us About the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
Contact Us About the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on November 21, 2024
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