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The Australian Refrigeration Council board has elected Greg Picker to the position of chair as Michael Bennett AM’s term as director and chair ended, concluding his long and illustrious career in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry. Kylie Farrelley was elected to the director seat vacated by Michael Bennett and Richard Livingston was re-elected to the Continue reading Picker named ARC chair, Bennett retires

PFAS warning sign

Proposals for a PFAS ban that conflicts with the finalisation of European Union F-Gas regulations have raised significant concerns among various stakeholders. Current drafts of these regulations pose a threat to global air-conditioning and refrigeration market as it works to integrate new-generation refrigerants and technologies aimed at combating climate change. The proposed PFAS ban: Known Continue reading Europe makes progress on conflicting PFAS ban and F-Gas phase-out regulations

EV battery

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted requirements that bring electric vehicle diagnostic standardisation into line with internal combustion engine models, potentially setting a benchmark for the global automotive industry. Because mandatory requirements for standardised diagnostic outputs were originally linked to tailpipe emissions control regulations they were never mandated for ZEVs. Starting from the Continue reading California mandates standard diagnostic system for electric vehicles from MY26

British Off Road, which apart from being one of Australia’s most respected Land Rover specialists is moving into electric vehicle conversions, has taken out the Innovation Award art this year’s MTAQ Industry Awards Gala. In a celebratory social media post the VASA member said: “We are very proud to have won the 2023 Motor Trades Continue reading VASA member British Off Road wins MTAQ Innovation Award

Koura is preparing to introduce its R444A refrigerant as a long-awaited replacement for R1234yf in the United States automotive aftermarket. Initially developed over a decade ago as an alternative to R134a in vehicle air-conditioning systems, R444A will now be offered as a compatible and more affordable alternative to R1234yf. Like YF, R444A caries an A2L Continue reading New R1234yf alternative to launch in US

VASA member TAFE Queensland is now offering the Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology apprenticeship, making Queensland the second state in Australia to provide apprenticeships focused on electrified vehicles. Emphasising the significance of equipping the automotive workforce with essential skills to meet increasing demand for EV maintenance and repair, TAFE Queensland CEO John Tucker Continue reading Queensland TAFE’s EV training and apprenticeships off to a flying start

The Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia (SAE-A) is now accepting assessment applications for Victoria’s Professional Engineers Registration Scheme (PERS). This approval was granted by the Business Licencing Authority (BLA), specifically in mechanical engineering. Victoria’s new mandatory registration scheme aims to ensure that engineers providing professional engineering services in the state of Victoria, or services Continue reading SAE-A taking assessment applications for Victoria’s mandatory PERS ticket

R1234yf-gauges

Refrigerant manufacturer Honeywell, which co-developed R1234yf with Chemours, has filed an application with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking approval for the use of YF as a retrofit refrigerant in R134a systems. This step, previously considered unlikely due to YF’s A2L mild flammability rating, was motivated by growing concern about the availability and Continue reading R1234yf retrofits coming after all?

Australia is taking a step towards a greener future with the recent agreement between ReNu Energy subsidiary Countrywide Hydrogen and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group. Continue reading Walkinshaw partners with Countrywide Hydrogen  plans for fuel cell truck conversion and production

VASA president Brett Meads is presenting a three-part TaT webinar series called Essential Mobile AC Principles, with a substantial discount for VASA members. The first part, Heat exchange and change of state has already taken place but part two (Sub-cooling and super-heating in an AC system) and part three (A multi-refrigerant fleet) respectively take place Continue reading Still time to catch Brett Meads webinars