Quote:
Originally Posted by talmy
Even with an electric compressor, and the ICE off, the power has to come from somewhere, so there will be additional consumption later when the ICE is on again and recharging the traction battery. In fact, there will be a loss in efficiency (powering via the battery) so the average gallons/hour of AC use will increase where there is low speed EV operation mixed in. As you have observed with a 2001-2003 Prius, low speed AC operation is particulary onerous as you have about 5x the airflow (=gas consumption) you would need to run the AC alone! Even more reason to open the windows around town.
|
Recently we've had some +100F days and it was unsafe to drive around without AC. So instead of taking the access road at 38 miles per hour, I jumped on the divided, limited access expressway and tooled along at 50 miles per hour. I only saw low 50s MPG but I was fresh, alert and it worked. Had I stayed on the access road at 38 miles per hour, I'd have only gotten middle 50s with AC and heat stroke with without AC.
Bob Wilson