Air Con in EVs & Hybrids: Experts Answer Your Questions

While there are many similarities between ICE (internal combustion engine) and electric vehicles, there are plenty of other features that have fundamental differences — batteries, fuel, and tyres being some of them. When it comes to air conditioning, though, it is a little more complicated to outline the differences between EVs, hybrids, and petrol or diesel cars.

 One thing to note is that air conditioning is undoubtedly more important in EVs than in regular cars. Read on to find out why.

If you’re considering buying an electric or hybrid vehicle, or you’re curious to learn more about the climate control features of your current EV, Kwik Fit’s experts have answered the most common questions — from the impact on battery life to the importance of temperature regulation.

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• Can you run air conditioning in an electric car?
• How does air con work in hybrid and electric cars?
• Why is air con more important in hybrids & EVs?
• What is thermal management?
• Should EVs have their air con regassed more?
• Does air con drain the battery in EVs?
• Does air con reduce range in an EV?
• Can you charge an EV whilst using the air con?

Can you run air conditioning in an electric vehicle?

Yes, you can run air conditioning in electric and hybrid cars. The air conditioning system in electric cars runs directly from the vehicle’s battery (unlike traditional ICE vehicles) which means that using the AC will use battery power — but that is to be expected, just like how turning the air con on in a regular car uses fuel.

How does air conditioning work in electric and hybrid cars?

In electric cars, the air conditioning compressor is powered by electricity rather than the engine. Other than the energy source, though, the EV air con process is very similar to a regular car’s:

• The compressor, powered by an electric motor, pressurises the refrigerant gas.
• The refrigerant passes through the condenser, where any heat is released to the outside air. At this stage, the refrigerant gas condenses to a liquid.
• The pressure of the now liquid refrigerant is reduced by the expansion valve, cooling it further before it enters the evaporator.
• In the evaporator, the cooled liquid refrigerant absorbs any heat from the air inside the cabin, cooling the cabin temperature.
• A blower fan then helps circulate this cooled air throughout the cabin.

In hybrid vehicles, the air conditioning can be powered either by the engine or the battery.

Why is air con more important in hybrids & EVs?

As mentioned above, the main point of difference between regular vehicle air con and the air con in hybrids or EVs is how important it is. In electric and hybrid vehicles, air conditioning is so much more than a nice-to-have — it plays an essential role in what’s known as thermal management.

What is thermal management?

Thermal management refers to the technology and processes that are used to keep a system – like a battery – within its ideal operating temperature range.

In electronic devices especially, sometimes things can overheat and cause slow or poor performance - or, in some rare cases, complete system failure. So, it’s essential to keep temperatures down. This is where thermal management comes in.

Usually, thermal management dissipates excess heat (in the form of thermal energy) away from a device or system to control temperatures. In some systems, this process takes the form of liquid coolants; in others, insulating materials. But, in EVs and hybrid vehicles, air conditioning plays an innovative and important role in this process.

How does air con aid thermal management?

The air conditioning in electric vehicles works to cool the battery, supporting an effective charging process and also contributing significantly to EV battery life. With this being said, getting your electric vehicle serviced regularly, with a focus on its air con unit, is not only for comfort but also to help maintain vehicle health and value.

Book in for a full EV service with Kwik Fit today if you’re concerned about your EV’s health.

Should EVs have their air con regassed more?

Based on how fundamental air con is to electric and hybrid vehicles, it is essential that your car’s air conditioning unit is working at its best — and to do this, it will need to be regassed regularly.

Electric vehicles use the same type of refrigerant gas as internal combustion engine vehicles, with the majority requiring the newer ‘R1234YF’ type of gas. Luckily for you, we have over 400 centres equipped to carry out air con recharge on electric and hybrid vehicles.

Air con & EV battery life

The battery life of electric vehicles is a common source of anxiety for drivers — and often the reason why many people choose not to purchase fully electric cars.

It seems there is still a lot of work to be done to reassure the public about the reliability and durability of EV batteries. So, we’ll try our best to put your mind at ease now.

Does air con drain the battery in EVs?

Having the air con on does drain the battery faster than if you didn’t have it on — but not by much. Research from Perry’s suggests that the battery is drained about 11% faster when the air con is on than when it isn’t.

Additionally, this is only a ballpark figure, liable to change because of factors like:

• How intense the air con is.
• How long you have the air con turned on for.
• Whether you’re running other battery-draining features, such as heated seats.

However, as we’ve said above, due to its crucial role in thermal management, air conditioning can actually help to extend EV battery life.

Does air con reduce range in an EV?

According to The National Travel Attitudes Survey, 16% of respondents said they would not be confident at all in making a long journey in an electric vehicle, signalling anxiety around the range capabilities of electric vehicles.  

But it’s not the air con they should be worrying about. Unfortunately, air con does reduce the range of an EV — but, again, only marginally. Heating, on the other hand, is said to reduce battery range around 17% faster when turned on full-blast.

Other luxuries also have an impact. Let’s say it’s a winter morning and you're running late before work but your windscreen is frozen over.  Using a demister and heated seats can cause a reduction in battery range by about 15%.

Can you change an EV whilst using the air con?

While everyone knows it isn’t safe to leave a regular petrol or diesel car running while fuelling up, electric vehicles can definitely be on when charging. It is safe for you to sit in them, turn them on, and use their in-car features while being hooked up to a charge point.

This means that internal systems such as air con, any stereo systems, and heated seats will work while charging. In fact, using air con in this way means that any energy used is being drawn from the grid instead of your battery. 

The only thing that won’t work, however, is the drive chain. For safety, the drive chain is disabled when electric vehicles are charging, preventing you from being able to pull away and cause harm to the charging point.

Keep your EV's air con healthy

So, now that you understand just how vital air conditioning is to electric and hybrid vehicles, the need for maintaining air con health in these vehicles becomes clear.

To keep on top of your air con maintenance, let the experts at your local Kwik Fit centre help. 

Book in for a Free Air Con Check, regas, or debug today. And, in the meantime, stay in the loop with the latest electric vehicle and air conditioning advice on our blog.