Does driving without AC save fuel?
3 Answers
When the car air conditioner is not using AC, it can only provide heating, not cooling, and does not consume fuel. Meaning of AC: AC is the switch for the air conditioning compressor. When using the air conditioner in summer, AC must be turned on, meaning the cooling function must be activated. However, the heating function only utilizes the heat circulation inside the car and does not require the air conditioning compressor to be engaged. Therefore, to turn on the heating, you only need to adjust the air conditioning buttons without turning on the AC switch. How AC works: Cool air is produced by pressurizing the compressor to liquefy the refrigerant, which then evaporates and absorbs a large amount of heat from the air. When the cooling function is activated, the compressor's pulley drives the compressor to work, increasing the engine's load and consuming a certain amount of fuel. On the other hand, warm air comes from the heat generated by the engine during operation: when the engine's cooling system dissipates heat from the engine, a fan directs this heat into the car to provide warm air. When the heating function is not in use, the fan stops, and the heat vent closes, allowing the dissipated heat to be released entirely into the atmosphere. Therefore, the car's heating system recycles waste heat and does not consume additional fuel.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I've personally tested that not using the air conditioning does save fuel. The AC compressor is driven by the engine, so once you turn on the AC, the engine has to work harder, naturally increasing fuel consumption. I remember last summer during a long-distance trip, using the air conditioning added about 1 liter per 100 kilometers to my fuel consumption, but turning it off saved that amount. Especially in city traffic jams, where the engine runs at lower RPMs, the burden of running the AC is greater, and the increase in fuel consumption is more noticeable. However, on highways, the situation is a bit different: not using the AC might lead some people to open windows for ventilation, which increases wind resistance and could end up using more fuel. So, my advice is, when the weather is cool, you can definitely turn off the AC and enjoy the natural breeze—it's comfortable and fuel-efficient. On extremely hot days, occasionally using the AC moderately is a good compromise. Developing such driving habits not only saves you some money on fuel but also makes your car last longer.
I always pay attention to fuel economy and have found that not using the air conditioning can save a significant amount on fuel costs. When the AC is running, it consumes 10-20% of the engine's power, directly leading to a drop in fuel efficiency. Specifically, for an average family car, turning off the AC can save about 0.5 to 1 liter of fuel per 100 kilometers in city driving, which translates to saving dozens of dollars a month. With current high fuel prices, these savings can add up to a small fortune over time. Besides saving money, it also helps the environment: burning less fuel means fewer carbon emissions, which is better for air quality. Of course, safety comes first—don't push yourself too hard in extreme heat, as it can lead to heatstroke and impair driving. My experience is to open the windows for ventilation when the car is cool in the morning, then decide whether to use the AC after the interior temperature has dropped a bit. Combining these small life hacks makes for a rational and cost-effective approach.
