What does the ECON button in a car's air conditioning system mean?
2 Answers
The ECON button in a car's air conditioning system is the energy-saving mode switch, which can turn the energy-saving mode on or off. Modern cars generally offer three driving modes to choose from: energy-saving mode, comfort mode, and sport mode. In energy-saving mode, the compressor is not turned off, but the control point of the compressor is raised, so the compressor does not run continuously. The start and stop points of the compressor are determined by the evaporation temperature. The working principle of ECON mainly involves analyzing various configurations that affect fuel consumption, such as transmission gear, engine speed, braking system, and transmission oil temperature, through various sensors. Then, the ECU calculates the amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine for operation, resulting in lower fuel consumption in ECON mode compared to normal driving mode.
I drive a Toyota hybrid and use the ECON button daily. This function is actually short for Economy Mode. When pressed, the vehicle's air conditioning system becomes more fuel-efficient. The compressor won't work at full capacity, and the fan speed automatically reduces, giving a natural breeze feel at around 27°C even in hot summer. Although it takes 3-4 minutes longer to cool down, it saves nearly 1L/100km on highways. I keep it on during daily commutes, only turning it off during extreme 40°C heat. By the way, activating ECON turns the energy consumption display blue on the center screen, reminding you that you're in energy-saving mode.
