How Much Does Using Air Conditioning Affect Fuel Consumption?

[DiAlivia]

Using air conditioning increases fuel consumption by approximately 20%. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Contributing factors: The car's air conditioning system consumes about 20% of the engine's power. Therefore, using the AC utilizes a portion of the engine's power, leading to increased fuel consumption. The exact increase depends on the vehicle's engine displacement and speed. For a car that typically consumes 10 liters per 100 kilometers, using the AC can increase fuel consumption by around 2 liters. The impact of air conditioning on fuel consumption is quite noticeable, though different fan speeds have a smaller effect. 2. Heating system: The heating system works quite differently. Since the engine generates heat, this warmth serves as the source for the heating system, essentially recycling energy. As a result, using the heating system generally does not consume additional fuel. Many people prefer to set the AC to the lowest temperature for maximum cooling, which further increases fuel consumption.