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It was concluded that the only advantage would be:
You could run the A/C in a parked garage with the door shut and not get carbon monoxide poisioning.... for about 5 minutes... then your battery would be depleted anyhow. Electric A/C takes a lot of power... More than most people imagine.
There's no advantage for an electric A/C MPG wise.
The disadvantage is, you wear out your battery pack in fewer than 10 years.
I guess you are saying that Toyota & Honda made a mistake when they designed their hybrids to include an electrically operated A/C compressor. I don't think that many Toyota & Honda hybrid owners would agree. And I don't recall any Toyota Prius owners complaining because their batteries wore out prematurely!
The HCHII has this, and the air gets a little warmer when the car autostops. You can also watch the SoC drop at long lights. It's better than nothing (or blowing hot air), but I think the regen hit you take dropping below 5 bars of SoC has got to burn almost as much gas as you would have burned if the car didn't autostop. Unless I know it is going to be a really long light, I will force ICE-on to preserve battery.
That being said, I don't think that having the electric motor power the AC would have much effect on battery logevity. The AC will spin away on electric until the SoC hits a certain level and then the ICE starts again to keep things in balance--very similar to the way it handles battery depletion from driving.
gpsman1 -
I guess you are saying that Toyota & Honda made a mistake when they designed their hybrids to include an electrically operated A/C compressor. I don't think that many Toyota & Honda hybrid owners would agree. And I don't recall any Toyota Prius owners complaining because their batteries wore out prematurely!
#1 Not a mistake, just a different approach
#2 There are numerous reasons for an electrically driven A/C, MPG gain is not one
#3 Are there any 10 year old hybrids with electric A/C? NO!
Well, logic tells me that neither method is more efficient. All power in a hybrid comes from gasoline. You either burn gas at a light to keep the AC running, or you use the battery at a light and burn extra gas the next time the engine kicks in to recharge the battery.
There is simply a choice to make. Extra wear from the added charge/deplete cycles on the battery or the occasional discomfort at a red light.
Ford chose battery longevity, Toyota chose passenger comfort.
I guess since I don't plan to keep this vehicle for more than 100,000 miles, I am not as concerned with the added cycles of wear and would appreciate the AC more since I have 2 little kids. That said, its not a huge deal to turn the AC to MAX on those occasions.
-Tim
2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid AWD
Black with Pebble interior
Premium Package with Nav & Moonroof
#2 There are numerous reasons for an electrically driven A/C, MPG gain is not one
Assuming the driver wishes to have air conditioning the use of an electric compressor is a most definite FE advantage.
#3 Are there any 10 year old hybrids with electric A/C? NO!
Time will tell.
Look at it this way, what if you had to run the ICE in order to power the radio each and every time you turn it on....??
And just what is the difference, doesn't ALL hybrid vehicles use an electric water pump to continuously supply HOT coolant to the heater core even with the engine shut down..??
Simply fuelish to run the ICE for ONLY powering the A/C or water pump.
And just what is the difference, doesn't ALL hybrid vehicles use an electric water pump to continuously supply HOT coolant to the heater core even with the engine shut down..??
Remember, A hot water pump consumes A LOT less power than an A/C compressor.
Electric A/C compressor
