SK Enmove said Wednesday its next-generation refrigerants for electric vehicles have received certification from the US amid its push for global expansion in the all-important clean mobility market.
The company’s two types of refrigerants, key materials used in automobiles to absorb or release heat, were granted the R-Number certification by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, which recognized their high level of safety, efficiency and overall performance.
The newly certified refrigerants are specifically developed for EVs, which require dual-purpose refrigerants for both heating and cooling, as they do not produce waste heat that warms up the car like internal combustion engine vehicles. Nonetheless, these products are also compatible with gas-powered cars.
SK Enmove has so far obtained R-Number certification for three products, including one certified in June last year. This accomplishment is attributed to a strategic partnership forged with Hyundai Motor Group last year, aimed at developing next-generation automotive refrigerants that improve heating and cooling performance by over 30 percent.
In an in-house evaluation, the company reported that these refrigerants increased the efficiency of heat pumps, which vaporize the materials to control the temperature of EVs, thereby improving energy consumption efficiency.
SK Enmove stressed that its refrigerant products comply with stringent global environmental regulations -- including the US initiative to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons and the EU’s proposed regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- both of which are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“This achievement reflects over a decade of expertise in thermal management research and development, including advancements in EV fluids and immersion cooling thermal fluids,” stated SK Enmove CEO Kim Wone-kee. “We will continue to enhance our thermal management capabilities to position SK Enmove as a global leader in global refrigerant markets and an ‘energy saving company.’”
By Byun Hye-jin (hyejin2@heraldcorp.com)
