Ford gets money for environmental research on air conditioning systems

posted: Friday 03 July 2009 by Alison in: Announcements Tech Curiousities Ford

Il climatizzatore delle auto consuma 28 milioni di litri di carburanti ogni anno

According to data, fuelling air conditioners in cars every year consumes up to 28 million litres of petrol, equal to about six percent of the total consumption of petrol and diesel. American scientists from NREL (laboratory for renewable energies) have released these figures, and also calculated that coolant leaks cause emissions of 50 million tonnes of CO2 a year.

Experts are working to improve the function of air conditioners, so as improve efficiency by about 33 percent. Some ideas are already being tested, including overhauling air conditioning systems and replacing or changing traditional coolant systems. A special paint for cars that reflects solar rays could also be an option, reducing the need for air conditioning.

This summer, Ford will be the major partner in research projects of this kind, with the Department of Energy in the US dedicating a 4.2 million-dollar donation to the company. The money will go to improving car air conditioning systems and to the development of a thermal-electric system.

Source | Ecoblog

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