Does Using Air Conditioning in New Energy Vehicles Consume a Lot of Electricity?
3 Answers
For gasoline-powered vehicles, turning on the air conditioning increases fuel consumption by 1-2 liters per 100 kilometers, and the fuel consumption is 1-2 liters per hour when idling with the air conditioning on. In contrast, electric vehicles use the battery pack to supply power to both the air conditioning system and the powertrain separately, which does not increase the burden on the electric motor. Regardless of the driving speed, the air conditioning consumes 1.62 kWh per hour. The advantages of new energy vehicles are as follows: 1. Low operating costs: For example, the BAIC EU260 has costs similar to the price of 1 liter of fuel. 2. No license plate restrictions: Those who have participated in BAIC New Energy's ternary test drive events know that the biggest advantage of new energy vehicles is the absence of license plate restrictions in large cities. 3. Stable driving with no gear shift impact: Since most new energy vehicles use a single-speed transmission, they generally do not experience gear shift impacts. 4. More environmentally friendly: Finally, the primary design function of new energy vehicles is environmental friendliness. They use electricity as the main power source, saving a significant amount of fuel and contributing to environmental protection efforts.
As a frequent electric vehicle driver, I've noticed that using the air conditioning does consume a significant amount of power. This is mainly because the AC compressor requires substantial electricity to operate, and the fan also consumes power, especially when running at full blast for cooling in summer or heating in winter, which can directly reduce the driving range by 15% to 20%. When using the AC in high temperatures, the power consumption tends to be even higher, directly impacting battery life. In contrast, using only the fan or ventilation mode is much more energy-efficient. I remember one time during a long-distance drive on a hot day, after running the AC the entire trip, the dashboard showed a 50-kilometer drop in range, which taught me to precool the car before setting off. It's advisable to set a reasonable temperature—auto mode is more efficient—and avoid setting it to the lowest temperature just for momentary comfort. Regularly checking the system for faults and maintaining it properly can also reduce power consumption, saving money and being more eco-friendly. Overall, while the impact is significant, it's much less than the fuel consumption in gasoline cars, making it more reassuring to use the AC in new energy vehicles.
I've been driving a new energy vehicle for several years, and using the air conditioning definitely consumes a lot of power, especially when blasting cold air on extremely hot days or using the heater in freezing winters, which instantly reduces the range by a noticeable margin. For example, in summer with the AC on, the range for regular commutes might decrease by about 10%, and the impact is even more pronounced on long-distance drives. Fortunately, I'm accustomed to using the eco-driving mode along with reasonable AC settings, keeping the temperature around 25 degrees Celsius and avoiding frequent compressor cycling. Additionally, ventilating the car before parking can reduce the startup load, and parking in the shade when possible also helps. I remember some fellow EV owners suggesting replacing conventional heaters with heat pump systems, which reportedly consume less power. Overall, while AC power consumption is annoying, it's not a major issue for daily commutes—just requires a bit more charging. Compared to fuel-powered vehicles, electric air conditioning is quieter, more convenient, and simpler to maintain.
