Does Higher AC Usage Lead to More Fuel Consumption?
2 Answers
Higher temperatures and greater humidity result in increased fuel consumption due to car air conditioning. When the temperature exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, fuel consumption can rise by approximately 10% to 20%, depending on temperature and humidity levels. In extreme conditions, such as temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius combined with high humidity, fuel consumption may increase by up to 30%. Proportion of AC fuel consumption: Car air conditioning consumes about 20% of the engine's power, but the exact increase in fuel consumption depends on the vehicle's displacement and speed. For a car with an average fuel consumption of 10 liters per 100 kilometers, using the AC may increase fuel consumption by around 2 liters, though this is only a rough estimate. Other factors affecting AC fuel consumption: In addition to displacement and speed, the increase in fuel consumption due to air conditioning is also influenced by the driving environment, such as external temperature and humidity. For example, using the AC during extremely hot and humid summer days (like the 'dog days' of summer) consumes more fuel compared to using it during dry, hot weather in early summer.
As a veteran taxi driver with 15 years of experience, I often discuss this with passengers. Cranking the AC to maximum fan speed in summer doesn't actually consume much fuel - the electric fan's power consumption barely burns half a cup of gasoline. The real fuel guzzler is setting the temperature dial to its coldest setting - this forces the compressor to run at full power constantly, like carrying 30 pounds of rice on a highway trip, adding at least 1.5L per 100km. Once I conducted a test: on a 32°C day, using 20°C recirculation mode burned nearly one-third more fuel than 24°C fresh air mode. Now I teach my apprentices: first blast maximum airflow to cool down the cabin quickly, then reduce fan speed and set temperature around 23°C once comfortable - that's what I call smart driving!
