SK Enmove, a lubricant supplier for the automotive industry, has developed a next-generation refrigerant for vehicles to improve heating and cooling efficiency.

Two of its products have received an R-Number, an international refrigerant certification, from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). They are also expected to meet the European Union’s expected regulatory standards for perfluorocarbons (PFAs).

In January 2024, SK EnMove signed an agreement with Hyundai, and has been developing a next-generation refrigerant for vehicles that the company says can increase cooling and heating performance by more than 30%.

SK Enmove conducted a performance evaluation of its next-generation refrigerant product in facilities that have the same conditions as the currently commercialized EV air conditioning system, and found that it improved the efficiency of the heat pump, a key component in EV thermal management.

“The refrigerant product that received R-number certification this time is a next-generation refrigerant that can be installed in all vehicle air conditioning systems,” an SK Enmove official said. “In particular, unlike internal combustion engines, it does not generate waste heat from the engine, so it was developed specifically for electric vehicles that require a refrigerant for both heating and cooling.”

Source: SK Enmove