Do I really have to freeze

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by EssexExile

Those old steam engines could be a right pain.

Very well spotted yes!

😳.

I also hear they are good compared to internal combustion also lol!

[StanC]

I don't have an EV, but I'm just wondering - isn't there a similar problem in hot summer weather with running the aircon? In my petrol car I nearly always have on either the heater or the aircon, sometimes both. I would think that aircon would draw as much power as the heater, wipers, etc, so it will be a year-round thing if you want to stay comfortable.

Stan.

[DaveNP]

Air con uses a heat pump, like a fridge, in an ICE car the power is taken from a pulley on the auxiliary belt, in an EV that would need to be a dedicated motor, but heat pumps move around 3 times the energy they consume, so aircon uses less power than a basic electric heating element.

[pinballdave]

You've also got to remember that with aircon, unlike heating where the engine gives off waste heat that can be used, there is no waste cooling, so the energy to run it has to come from somewhere.

We already know that using aircon will reduce your range in a petrol or diesel car, and it is likely to be a similar amount to the reduction in range in an EV.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by DaveNP

Air con uses a heat pump, like a fridge, in an ICE car the power is taken from a pulley on the auxiliary belt, in an EV that would need to be a dedicated motor, but heat pumps move around 3 times the energy they consume, so aircon uses less power than a basic electric heating element.

Some modern ICE cars now have a electric motor to run the a/c compressor. This is for reasons of space (a/c compressor doesn't need to be sandwiched in the path of the aux belt) and control - modern a/c inverter pumps can be controlled to cool just the amount necessary rather than on/off at engine speed.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by StanC

I don't have an EV, but I'm just wondering - isn't there a similar problem in hot summer weather with running the aircon? In my petrol car I nearly always have on either the heater or the aircon, sometimes both. I would think that aircon would draw as much power as the heater, wipers, etc, so it will be a year-round thing if you want to stay comfortable.

Stan.

An electric car constantly uses the heat and ac to heat or cool the battery in use .. The battery has its own water heating and AC system . the main propulsion battery does a lot more than just power you along the road ...

[Whippy]

Originally Posted by Clan

An electric car constantly uses the heat and ac to heat or cool the battery in use .. The battery has its own water heating and AC system . the main propulsion battery does a lot more than just power you along the road ...

Which is why the new dry cells will be much better when they arrive, they don't need to do all that.