Hyundai Motor, SK Enmove to join forces for next-generation vehicle refrigerants

Hyundai Motor Group and SK Enmove Co. on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in developing refrigerants for next-generation vehicles.

SK Enmove will lead the development of advanced refrigerants to enhance heating performance by more than 30%, compared to the existing models.

Hyundai Motor Group will focus on developing vehicle thermal management systems fitting with SK's new refrigerants to improve EVs’ mileage in winter.

Refrigerants are used in air conditioning systems and heat pumps of cars.

Unlike internal combustion engine cars, EVs do not generate engine waste heat that warms the interior of cars, so they need to use refrigerants for both cooling and heating.

SK Enmove produces EV lubricants and immersion cooling fluid funneled into pump systems to reduce energy consumption.

The two companies will cooperate to develop products that align with the European Union's new regulations aimed at phasing out poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), while working on technologies to recover and recycle waste refrigerants.

Write to Jin-Won Kim at Jin1@hankyung.com
 


Yeonhee Kim edited this article.