Does Using Air Conditioning Affect Car Battery Charging?
4 Answers
Electric vehicles can use air conditioning while charging, but this is not recommended. The reason is that using the air conditioning during the charging process increases the internal charge load on the power battery pack of new energy electric vehicles, causing the battery pack to continue working before it is fully charged. This significantly accelerates the battery degradation of the power battery pack. Precautions for charging electric vehicles: 1. Correctly grasp the charging time: The battery charging time is about ten hours, and overcharging should be avoided. Plan charging stops in advance when preparing for a trip to avoid running out of power while driving. 2. Protect the charger: Try to avoid bumps and vibrations to the charger. To reduce costs, most chargers today are not designed for high vibration resistance. Many chargers experience internal potentiometer drift after vibration, leading to parameter drift and abnormal charging. Therefore, if you must move the charger, it is recommended to wrap it in plastic foam for protection.
I remember that turning on the AC does affect battery charging, especially when the car is idling or moving at low speeds. The AC compressor consumes engine power, reducing the alternator's output and directly lowering charging efficiency. Once, I had the AC on for a long time while stuck in traffic, and the battery didn’t charge sufficiently, making it difficult to start the car the next day. At low engine speeds, charging can’t keep up with the power demand of the AC. Modern cars have compensating circuits, but if the battery is aging or the car’s condition is poor, the impact can be more noticeable. It’s advisable to avoid frequent short trips with the AC on and ensure driving distances are long enough for the alternator to fully recharge the battery. If you notice dimming lights or difficulty starting the engine, these could be signs of a battery issue. Regularly checking battery health can help minimize such problems.
I've noticed that when driving normally, the battery charges slower after turning on the air conditioning, especially when stopped at red lights. This is because the engine has to divert power to the compressor, leaving the alternator unable to supply as much electricity to charge the battery. Over time, this can lead to insufficient battery charge and faster aging. I have my own method: use a multimeter to check the idle voltage. Ideally, it should be above 13.5V; if it's below this value when the AC is on, it's worth paying attention to. This isn't a major issue, but it's important to be mindful of driving patterns. For example, during short city trips with frequent starts and stops, it's best to turn off the AC and let some air in. On the highway, the impact is smaller since the alternator works more efficiently. Maintaining good habits can extend battery life and prevent sudden breakdowns.
Running the air conditioning affects battery charging, especially at idle. The engine speed is low, the alternator output is weak, and the air conditioning consumes a lot of electricity, so the battery doesn't get charged much. In severe cases, it can even cause reverse discharge and damage the battery. I recommend avoiding long periods of idling with the air conditioning on, regularly checking battery terminals to prevent oxidation and looseness. It's more reasonable to use the air conditioning less during short trips.
