Can the Air Conditioning Be Turned On Without Starting the Car?
2 Answers
It is possible to turn on the air conditioning without starting the car, but the air blown out by the blower will only be the ambient air inside the cabin. Below is a detailed introduction to car air conditioning: 1. The car air conditioning compressor is driven by the engine's power. If the engine is not started, the compressor naturally will not work. 2. The car air conditioning system is designed to cool, heat, ventilate, and purify the air inside the cabin, providing a comfortable environment for passengers, reducing driver fatigue, and improving driving safety. The air conditioning system has become one of the indicators of a car's full functionality. 3. When the car is turned off, the air conditioning compressor does not operate. The natural air blown by the blower is powered by the battery. Prolonged use of the air conditioning without starting the car can drain the battery, potentially leaving the car unable to start or causing long-term battery depletion. This applies only to traditional fuel vehicles; new energy vehicles do not face this issue.
I've been driving gasoline-powered cars for over a decade, and let me tell you honestly, you can't properly run the air conditioning without the engine running. The compressor relies on the engine belt to provide cooling. When the engine is off, pressing the AC button only makes the fan spin briefly, blowing air at the same temperature as outside. Last time I was waiting for my wife in the parking lot, I thought I'd save fuel by turning off the engine but keeping the AC on. Half an hour later, the battery died completely—I couldn't even roll up the windows. Winter is worse; the heater depends entirely on the engine coolant for warmth. No ignition means you're stuck freezing. But electric cars don't have this issue. Yesterday, I test-drove a new energy vehicle, and its battery directly powered the AC, producing cold air even without the engine running, just like a home air conditioner.
