Air Con Performance In Traffic?

[uumode]

In heavy traffic, how does the Prius air con work? off the petrol engine?

(and does it keep the cabin cool on a hot day)

[Chris Dance]

Air con works all the time as far as I can tell. I find it very efficient in traffic particularly in motorway traffic jams. I cannot give you the technical workings of the air con but it is as efficient as my Avensis air con was.

[Habu]

It's also the only car in the world (I think) that can run the A/C without the engine running so when you're in slow moving traffic and the engine has turned itself off you can still have A/C :) Clever Prius. I use mine as much in the winter as the summer as it's an air conditioner that dehumidifies the air but most of the time I turn it off.

[jaykay2]

We are in Central Portugal, the air con on our 2007 Prius is never off! wonderful system, when we are waiting at traffic lights, full airconditioning with no engine running

Best car we ever bought

[posing]

Air con without engine only works if you have enough Battery juice! Give it 10 mins or so from full Battery - it will be drained and petrol engine auto starts.

[mikeytic]

In heavy traffic, how does the Prius air con work? off the petrol engine?

(and does it keep the cabin cool on a hot day)

no mate it works off the high voltage side of vehicle like the water pump for cooling the motor hope this helps

hence why its not safe working on air conditioning as high voltage

[Phoenix999]

Don't worry about how it works.... all I would worry about is IF it works! My wife's Prius air con works perfectly and I doubt she cares HOW it works

[Dorian]

As mentioned before.. it has it's own little leccy motor that runs on the main hybrid Battery..

The engine will kick in if the Battery goes low.

Mine easily lasted 30 mins on Battery as I waited in a car park.