Ford EVs May Use Propane For HVAC Systems

Heat pumps have been a popular addition to electric vehicles in recent years for a very good reason – they help mitigate the oftentimes significant range loss that EVs typically experience in cold weather. The Ford F-150 Lightning gained its own standard heat pump for the 2024 model year, and was followed by the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E in that regard, too. Now, news has surfaced that Ford is working to develop propane (R290)-based thermal management systems for EVs, too.

This news comes to us from Natural Refrigerants, which reports that Ford submitted an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking that agency to list R290 as an acceptable option for mobile air-conditioning (MAC) and heat pump systems under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program. The reasoning behind this move stems from the fact that when the widely-used R1234yf breaks down, it forms trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) – which has been linked to both human and environmental health risks.

These concerns are prompting the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to meet next month to discuss potential restrictions pertaining to the use of R1234yf. In the U.S., The EPA is also looking into this same matter, but it seems as if Ford is working to get ahead of the curve. In the course of its research, The Blue Oval has found that its R290-based full-secondary loop heat pumps are superior for use in EVs, as they offer significant performance benefits versus other technologies.

“Most automobiles manufactured outside of Europe, North America and a few other developed countries still use HFC-134a,” said Kristen Taddonio, Senior Technical Advisor to IGSD. “However, this will soon change thanks to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. As manufacturers evaluate their low-GWP refrigerant options, it is good to have additional options to compete with HFO-1234yf. The new R290 in secondary loop architecture will safely cool and heat electric vehicle occupants while increasing electric vehicle driving range, which is key to satisfied customers.”