And she had a hybrid vehicle btw
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brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 day agoThis very much depends on the car.
Most modern computer controlled cars will not discharge the battery at idle unless you have a powerful sound system or an alternator that’s already on its way out. And they can adjust idle anyway if needed, most will increase idle when AC is turned on now to compensate the increased load on the engine. Driving the AC compressor is such a light load compared to the moving a 2 ton vehicle.
Also, many newer cars may even run an electric compressor instead of one driven off the motor. Think hybrid vehicles, it wouldn’t be feasible to have an AC system that turns off half the time if it’s running on the electric motors.
What you might deal with is heat soak if the fans can’t move enough air over the condenser core. But modern vehicles are immensely more efficient than even 10 year old vehicles.
LustyArgonianMana@lemmy.world 1 day ago
FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 1 day ago
You’re point?
They’re not designed to idle for extended periods, and doing so puts strain on the systems. that the cars are “more efficient” doesn’t change that.
the AC compressor isn’t a significant load, no. But it’ expects a certain engine RPM coming into it, and it’s designed at that. It’s significantly less when the engine is idling because that’s below it’s designed range. There’s a reason the manufacturers tell you not to idle your car for extended periods (mine says more than 10 minutes, my last one said 5.) and this is part of it.
the increase in RPM modern cars do isn’t for the AC system. it’s to keep the engine from stalling and running smoothly… the compressor is still not designed to operate at that RPM.
Malfeasant@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
You’re still ignoring the argument that a hybrid doesn’t have a typical vehicle alternator, it has a charging system that’s whole job is to generate electricity from the engine, and do that efficiently and reliably, and it has an electric a/c compressor.