Interiors

Patent revocation, counterfeiting fears cloud A/C changeover to R-1234yf Honeywell patent for R-1234yf revoked by European Patent Office, but company appeals and files additional patents. R-1234yf supply situation unlikely to improve until October. Cost issue creates possible opportunity for blend refrigerants. Refrigerant counterfeiting problems hit military. Read full story

Thermal storage evaporators offer idle-stop cost saving for A/C operation Idle-stop may add to city fuel economy and is eligible for 2.9 g/mi carbon credits, so it is starting to appear as a U.S. option. Need for A/C operation leads to evaluation of evaporators with thermal storage in waxes. Delphi promises U.S. OE installation for 2015, following low-volume Behr system in European BMW 7 Series. Read full story

Fiat explores multipurpose design with 500L Head of Fiat and Abarth Design, Roberto Giolito, regards multipurpose vehicle design as being "under-explored" and explains what Fiat is doing about it via the new 500L. Read full story

Video Interview: Inteva VP shares ‘panoramic’ view of roof-system trends Stefan Land, Vice President of Roof Systems at Inteva Products, sees the market for panoramic roof systems expanding, particularly in China and North America. At the SAE 2012 World Congress, Land discussed with SAE Magazines a range of roof-system technology trends. Read full story

Engineering firm all about functional excellence With the aim of becoming a center of excellence in electric vehicle development, Applus IDIADA is bringing its technical capability in that arena to the SAE 2012 World Congress in Detroit April 24-26. Read full story

Johnson Controls, Fraunhofer cross-link on materials research Automotive seat specialist Johnson Controls is entering into what it plans to be a long-term cooperation agreement with the German Fraunhofer Research Institution for Polymeric Materials and Composites (PYCO). Read full story

Wheelchair-accessible taxi exhibited in New York The MV-1 from Vehicle Production Group is a purpose-built body-on-frame vehicle for wheelchair use with an access ramp and greater interior room than converted taxis. Read full story

An automotive influence on heavy-truck interiors Functionality cannot be compromised inside heavy trucks, but their cabs increasingly mesh practicality with passenger-car sensibilities for comfort and ambience. Read full story

Greater connectivity coming to heavy trucks Two advanced heavy-truck concepts revealed at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show—the Freightliner Revolution Innovation Truck and Peterbilt’s Model 587 Technology Truck—attempted to capture what the truck interior of the future will look and feel like. Personal connectivity is a big part of that future. Read full story