The Future Looks… Explosive? What the New ‘Green’ Coolant Means for Mercedes Cars

Car enthusiasts who were looking forward to driving new Mercedes vehicles could be sorely disappointed during the next few years. Due to an extraordinary row with the European Union, or EU, Mercedes cars could be banned from being sold and driven all around the continent. In fact, any car not meeting the EU’s requirements may be banned starting in 2017. 

What’s the Fight About? 

Recently, the EU passes legislation demanding that all new cars must be made using a new ‘green’ coolant for air conditioning systems. The claim is that the coolant is much better for the environment than old coolants. The law came into effect January 1^st, and most car manufacturers have already begun using the new coolant in vehicles. Mercedes however, is refusing to comply. 

According to the German luxury car company, they performed internal tests that showed ten out of fourteen vehicles caught fire when subjected to a front-end collision. In this type of collision, the coolant would leak into car parts like the engine, catching fire, and in some cases, exploding. As a result, Mercedes claims the coolant is flammable, poisonous, and dangerous not only to the individuals in the car, but to rescue workers as well. 

The European Commission denies these tests, saying they were ‘controversial’ and blaming Mercedes for the findings. They also stated that new motor vehicles containing old coolant would not be allowed to be sold or registered in Europe; if any were allowed to be sold, the Department of Transport in the UK would receive a fine from the EU. 

What This Means for Mercedes 

While the European Commission and Mercedes are still involved in discussion about the coolant, things don’t look good for the car company. If the Mercedes does not conform to the legislation, they could lose approximately £500 million in sales just in the UK. On top of this, they will also lose millions on car sales in other areas of Europe and will be forced to deal with the costs of Mercedes parts and cars already built that cannot be sold. 

Mercedes isn’t the only car company in Europe with problems either. Volkswagen, which owns the Porsche, Skoda, and Audi brands have similar concerns about the new coolant. It has been reported, however, that this car company instructed their engineers to design a new coolant that would adhere to the environmental guidelines set out by the European Commission. This coolant would be made using carbon dioxide, and would be a much safer alternative. The company is now in advanced discussions to determine whether the new variant will be accepted. 

While the EU denies any knowledge, Mercedes has claimed to be in the process of making a similar coolant to Volkswagen’s. 

Is Cost an Issue?

While it might be hard to believe that a big company like Mercedes would need to worry about an extra £20 per car (the price of installing the new coolant and car parts necessary for it,) many believe this is exactly the reason why the German car company is making such a fuss. 

Whether the problem is an exploding coolant or a company simply wanting to avoid extra spending, Mercedes parts and cars could be banned from the roads soon if they do not comply with the law or present a viable coolant alternative to the European Commission.