Does the car air conditioning use fuel or electricity?
2 Answers
Traditional fuel-powered vehicle air conditioning compressors are driven by the engine and use fuel, while the car air conditioning control system uses electricity. New energy electric vehicle air conditioning uses the power from the car battery. There are two types of car air conditioning: independent and non-independent: Independent air conditioning: It has a dedicated power source (such as a second internal combustion engine) to drive the entire air conditioning system. It is generally used in long-distance freight trucks, high-floor medium and large buses, etc. Independent air conditioning requires two engines, resulting in high fuel consumption and higher costs. Maintenance and servicing are very difficult, requiring highly skilled engine repair personnel, and engine parts are not easy to obtain, especially for imported engines. Additionally, design and installation are more prone to system quality issues, and the extra drive engine increases the probability of failure. Non-independent air conditioning: This system directly uses the vehicle's driving power (engine) to operate. Non-independent air conditioning is driven by the main engine to operate the compressor, controlled by an electromagnetic clutch. When the power is connected, the clutch disengages, and the compressor stops, thereby regulating the supply of cold air to control the temperature inside the cabin. Its advantages are simple structure, easy installation and arrangement, and low noise. However, it consumes 10%-15% of the main engine's power, directly affecting the vehicle's acceleration performance and climbing ability. Additionally, its cooling capacity is affected by the vehicle's speed. If the car stops running, the air conditioning system also stops.
Last time when I had my car repaired, I chatted with the mechanic about this. Actually, the car air conditioning is a system that converts fuel into cooling. Although you press the button on the center console, the compressor is driven by the engine belt. The engine burns fuel to run, and incidentally powers the air conditioning compressor, allowing the refrigerant to circulate in the pipes for cooling. So turning on the AC definitely consumes more fuel, especially during traffic jams when the compressor kicks in, causing fuel consumption to spike. However, the air conditioning in electric vehicles relies purely on electricity, with the battery powering the electric compressor, which is a completely different principle.
