How Much Does Using Air Conditioning Increase Fuel Consumption in Summer?
1 Answers
In summer, the fuel consumption due to air conditioning depends on the temperature setting and the duration of use. Lower temperature settings and longer usage times result in higher fuel consumption. The car's air conditioning system consumes about 20% of the engine's power. For example, a car that typically consumes 10 liters per 100 kilometers would see an increase of approximately 2 liters when the air conditioning is on. Here are some additional details: 1. The cooling principle of car air conditioning: The system works by compressing the refrigerant to liquefy it, which then vaporizes and absorbs heat from the air. The power for this process comes from the air conditioning compressor, which is driven by the engine belt. Therefore, the air conditioning system does consume a portion of the engine's power. 2. How the heating system works: The heating system operates differently from the cooling system. The heat for the warm air comes from the engine's waste heat, essentially recycling it. In principle, this does not increase fuel consumption. However, if you turn on the heating immediately after starting the car, the engine's idle speed may increase to raise the coolant temperature more quickly, which indirectly leads to higher fuel consumption, but this is not a direct consumption by the heating system.
