Hello......just picked up the 2012 v5. Very happy. Thus far, avg 44.3 so things are looking good. My questions pertain to the HVAC.......and using most efficiently while parked. I'm going to be sleeping in the car. Probably about 7 hours. I understand the car needs to be in READY mode. 1) for the heater to work, does the AC need to be on? (I believe this is yes). 2) What mode should I be in? EV only...EV and ECO, or just ECO? (again, the car will be stationary) 3) Recirc on? 4) Anything else to be concerned with? Thanks again.
If you use the heat the engine will run most of the time. It gets the heat from the engine coolant. The AC button does not need to be pressed, it's not a heat pump. It's more conventional in heat mode, basically a hot water radiator.
Yes, keep the car in ECO mode, the AC does not need to be on unless you are hot, Recirculation mode probably not a good idea, because the windows will eventually fog up and you will get no fresh air. Ready mode also will allow the battery to recharge as necessary while you have the heat on.
Ok, I thought I read that the AC needed to be on get the heater going. So simply setting the temp, hit auto, XX degrees, and the car will maintain that temp? Sounds easy enough! Any idea when you put the temp control in auto, the AC light will automatically come on, it defaults to feet only and 1 blower on the fan?
I rarely use the Auto setting, because I like to control the direction. I use the upper vents to keep my hands warm. (I really need to move)
I've found a number of differences in the Auto mode when you use ECO mode vs normal. In ECO mode there's no bi-level mode in Auto, don't ask me why. There's a couple other things, the split-level with defog to the windshield is different too. Of courese we know that in hot weather it lowers the fan speed and A/C compressor speed, and recirc is used a little differently.
