Best Hybrid MPG Air Conditioning Settings

[The Real Maverick]

Ok. I went out and tested a few things in the HYBRID Maverick.

"Max" does not force the engine on nor keep the engine running. If there is enough battery charge, the Max A/C will run off battery alone.

Any time the A/C lamp is on the compressor is running. The A/C compressor does NOT cycle on and off in any mode.

Assumption: it works to dehumidify no matter the temperature or fan setting.

Low fan setting = low compressor speed.

In AUTO it blows FULL COLD (~40°F) until setpoint is reached. Then it starts blending with hot air to maintain setpoint.

In Manual control you will get blended air at setpoint right away.

So I stick by my earlier comments.

Lowest energy use and highest net MPG will be with LOWEST TEMPERATURE SETTING "Lo" and the lowest fan speed that keeps you comfortable.

If you find 40°F air coming out of vents annoying (wife does, I do not) you can add heat by "blending" the 40°F air with warmer air. But note: the air conditioner is always producing ~40 degree air. So by warming it after you cooled it you are technically wasting some energy, but it is probably a very small amount. So best to keep the wife happy when she is with you.

Not much new news here. But maybe it's new news to you that the air conditioner does not cycle. Even set to 85 degrees it is running continuously and adding engine heat after the fact to bring the temperature up after it chilled the air to below dewpoint to remove moisture.

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[SoonerBrink]

Ok. I went out and tested a few things in the HYBRID Maverick.

"Max" does not force the engine on nor keep the engine running. If there is enough battery charge, the Max A/C will run off battery alone.

Any time the A/C lamp is on the compressor is running. The A/C compressor does NOT cycle on and off in any mode.

Assumption: it works to dehumidify no matter the temperature or fan setting.

Low fan setting = low compressor speed.

In AUTO it blows FULL COLD (~40°F) until setpoint is reached. Then it starts blending with hot air to maintain setpoint.

In Manual control you will get blended air at setpoint right away.

So I stick by my earlier comments.

Lowest energy use and highest net MPG will be with LOWEST TEMPERATURE SETTING "Lo" and the lowest fan speed that keeps you comfortable.

If you find 40°F air coming out of vents annoying (wife does, I do not) you can add heat by "blending" the 40°F air with warmer air. But note: the air conditioner is always producing ~40 degree air. So by warming it after you cooled it you are technically wasting some energy, but it is probably a very small amount. So best to keep the wife happy when she is with you.

Not much new news here. But maybe it's new news to you that the air conditioner does not cycle. Even set to 85 degrees it is running continuously and adding engine heat after the fact to bring the temperature up after it chilled the air to below dewpoint to remove moisture.

Very impressive! Thank you!

 

[Ozarkbeard]

...Lowest energy use and highest net MPG will be with LOWEST TEMPERATURE SETTING "LO" and the lowest fan speed that keeps you comfortable...

This is basically the same thing my mechanic said: On the Hybrid; the A/C compressor speed follows the fan speed - but never shuts off during A/C operation.

So, on the Hybrid, the lowest fuel consumption while using A/C would be Manual operation and setting both the Temp and Fan speed to LO.

 

[commadorebob]

I use auto low set to 69 degrees.

Granted, I don't have the hybrid but it isn't the a/c that's pulling down my range. Driving in the summer or winter my mileage is about the same. And we have had a hot summer.

 

[Sykotyk]

With the hybrid the electric runs the pump.

Set it to where it's comfortable. It works as a thermostat. So ambient temp matters.

Fan speed just controls how quickly that air fills the cabin. If air in the back is warmer and it is moving around it will keep feeding into the intake to force the compressor to keep pumping until the return air matches the setting.

Fan on high will circulate all the hot air faster than low setting.

Once the whole cabin is cool then turn down the blower and/or raise the temp.

I've averaged over 40mpg on 46000 miles and have driven twice to Texas, Georgia, and once to Minnesota and three times to New Jersey.

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