Does AC use gas or electricity in a car?

Are you wondering if your car's air conditioner uses gas or electricity?

There are two sources of energy in your (gas) car: gas and electricity; some people may be confused when driving a car if they are using gasoline or a battery.

This article clears up that confusion for you and gives you some essential information about the main components of a car air conditioner.

The engine powers the A/C compressor in cars by turning a wheel, which subsequently turns a belt. So when your A/C is on, the compressor slows down your engine by putting more pressure on the engine to produce the same power, which requires more gas to maintain the same speed. The greater the load on your electrical system, the more the alternator has to work and the more it slows down. Then your engine needs more gas. 

How car air conditioners and electronics work

AC works with the following components:

• *A to compress the refrigerant to liquid and pass it through the condenser.
• A capacitor removes heat from the refrigerant through pipes and valves.
• An battery to ensure that the refrigerant does not contain moisture and can carry it to the evaporator.
• An expansion valve и diaphragm pipes return the refrigerant to a gaseous state in order to transfer it to the accumulator.
• An evaporator transfers heat to the refrigerant from the evaporator core (through the environment), allowing cold air to pass through the evaporator.

Why do so many people get confused about using gas or electricity?

A common misconception is that because the alternator is powering AC, the car does not use gas in the process. It uses mainly the electricity that is already there as a result of the operation of the engine. It is understandable how people can think so, but excess energy cannot be created out of thin air; cars are extremely efficient and store any energy, so virtually none of the excess that the alternator creates goes directly to the battery, and if the battery is charged, the alternator runs less.

Because of this, when you start the air conditioner, the alternator has to work a little more to generate the same amount of power. The engine needs to work a little harder to make the generator work harder to power it. 

This "small amount" is not very large. We'll take a closer look at the exact values ​​below.

How much gas does your air conditioner use?

Using your car's air conditioner will consume more gasoline because it runs on gas, making it less available to run the car itself. How much it will consume depends on the quality of the AC and alternator, as well as the efficiency of the car's engine in consuming gas.

Like a rough figure you can expect it to consume about 5% more per mile, usually more than what the car's heating system consumes. In hot weather, it is used more and will consume more. This will also reduce fuel consumption, which will be especially noticeable on short trips.

Will turning off your car air conditioner save you gas?

Yes, it will, because the air conditioner will not use gas while it is off, but the savings will be only small, perhaps not enough to make a significant difference. If you are looking to reduce fuel consumption, it will be reduced if you drive with your car windows open. You may notice that the car will also run faster and easier when the A/C is off.

How can I save gas when using my car's AC?

When using the car's air conditioner, you can save gas by closing the windows while the air conditioner is running and avoid using it while driving at low speeds. To save gas, you have to use it sparingly, but that defeats its purpose of keeping you cool when it's hot. It works more efficiently when you use it while driving fast.

Can a car air conditioner work without gas?

Yes, it can, but only for a short time, depending on how much oil is left in the compressor. It cannot work for a long time without refrigerant.

If a car air conditioner uses gas, how do air conditioners work in electric vehicles and how do they compare?

Electric vehicles do not have a gasoline engine and an alternator, so they cannot install gas-powered air conditioning. Instead, their air conditioners rely on the car's engine. If you can install any of these in a gas powered car, the gas engine will be more efficient and powerful and won't drain your battery. The mileage of an electric car air conditioner is usually affected more than a gasoline engine car air conditioner.

Electric vehicles and car air conditioning on electricity

To reiterate, a gas-powered car air conditioner is powered by an alternator, powered by the engine, and consumes gas (also called gasoline).

Because an electric vehicle does not have a gas engine or alternator, an electrically powered car air conditioner is instead powered by the car's engine and consumes electricity. It works similarly to a refrigerator to provide cool air.

If you can install either type in a gas powered car, it's generally better to choose gas-powered AC rather than electricity. There are four main reasons for this. AC gas car:

• It's more efficient in faster cooling of the car and keeping it cold longer.
• It's more powerful, so it is more suitable for driving in hot weather and/or use during long trips.
• Ddo not rely heavily on the car engine. This means that it can continue to work even when the engine is off.
• No drain the battery, as well as in automobile conditioners with the electric drive.

However, a gas-powered car air conditioner can only be installed if the car is compatible with it.

Summing up

While a gas powered car air conditioner can run on both gas and electricity, we noted that most of them have gas powered car air conditioners because they are more efficient and powerful than electric car air conditioners. Gas powered car air conditioners are powered by an alternator that is powered by the engine. In contrast, AC electric car air conditioners rely on an electric motor, which is their only option.

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How to dispose of electric motors
• How many amps does it take to charge an electric car
• Why don't electric cars have generators?