Prime's Incredibly Efficient A/C

I totally agree with you, driving in the central valley of CA last summer. I too kept AC set at 79-80F in triple digit heat, noticing how quickly and adequately the air felt cool to me. My son who usually demand maximum AC in 2013 Leaf (with heat pump) did not complain my temp setting in PP. The superior efficiency of PP heat pump was also felt in only 1-2 MPG drain compared to 3-4 MPG drain in Leaf's in triple digit heat. PP's heat pump is among many things my wife and I love about our PP!

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Yeah and even to defog the windshield when there's a lot of rain, the air conditioning had minimal effect on my electric range, AND seemed more efficient than the air conditioning that was in my Prius c. At least in the Prius c, when I used air conditioning, those battery bars would deplete quickly, and the engine used extra energy to recharge the battery, which was also NiMH and needed its own cooling fan.

 

I found an excellent page of Heat Pump info from the Toyota site. Contains basic explanations of how it works.

 

The Airconditioning Systems in Prii have always been more efficient than what can be found in standard vehicles. Depending on how hot the weather is, my Prius II suffers no more than a 2 mpg hit - and often less than that.

Indeed, the highest mpg I ever got out of a tankful (45 litres) of fuel was achieved during a particularly hot summer of commuting in London, with AC in use at least every afternoon on the way home. I got 66mpg @ 634 miles.

I still marvel at the idea of sitting in congested traffic in 35c heat, with the Prius ICE shutdown and the AC running nonchalantly off the HV battery, while all around you, everyone else is sweltering in the heat with their windows down - especially those with “stop start” technology. Engine shuts down, AC shutdown. Others shut off their ACs to save fuel in heavy traffic.

I’m not surprised the Prius Prime /PHEV is even more efficient.


iPad ? Pro

 

Here in Phoenix, we've been hitting triple-digits on and of lately, and I've noticed something interesting about my Prime vs. my 2012 Prius V, which is that when I'm running the AC in the Prime, it tends to drop the fan speed when the batteries are under load, like when accelerating from a light or going up a hill. Even manually increasing the fan speed, the computers are limiting them, probably because the system isn't able to cool as much, so the fan speed is cut down to ensure the air coming out is actually a constant temperature rather than warmer at a constant speed.

The trick will be to see how it fares when it's 110+ outside.

 

We live in Wickenburg and the temps have been comfortable. But on a trip to Surprise, AZ we found that there is absolutely "NO" air for the person in the back seat. It was miserable. The temp outside was 109 but it was even hotter in the back seat. It took over 40 minutes to cool the car enough so that "myself" in the back seat could breathe. We tried every setting for the air and nothing helped. Not at all happy with our Prius Prime 2018. Why would any company that builds a car that expensive "NOT" have vents for the back seat.

 

The a/c outlet for the back seats are under the driver and front passenger seats

 

Doesn't sound like you tried this...



You have the option of shutting off the flow to the back seat.

It is that "Priority" feature. Turned on, you'll only get air in front... to just the driver if there is no one in the passenger seat (it detects weight)... otherwise to both in front only.

 

I’ve enabled this setting before and my backseat passenger said they couldn’t feel any difference. I’ve never seen anything conclusive about vents on the bottom of the seat.

 

I’ve had the same experience. I’ve switched the rear seat air flow on and off and my rear passengers couldn’t detect any flow. I’ve never sat in the backseat myself, so haven’t experienced it personally.

 

Owner's Manual Page 492 (Page 502 for Premium & Advanced models), they are called "Air Outlets" of the AC system (both Hot and Cold)
Note the four arrows under the seats showing the 2 air outlets.

 

Are we talking about Prius Prime? Can you point out to me where are the "higher up rear A/C vents"?

I'm sure you know that "Air Conditioning System" has both Heat and Cold air supply coming out from those same "Air Vents" depends on the outside/inside air temperature especially A/C on AUTO mode.
I can hardly believe that there are " FOOT air vents" only blow warm air. You are in Canada so you have heat most of the time but for us in Florida, are those "Foot air vents for heat only" become useless?

 

Back on topic, here's a video of that A/C efficiency...

I experienced similar results from a totally different drive yesterday. It wasn't as hot, but speed of travel was faster. Since that's a new route, I'm hoping to film it to share in the next few weeks.

 

It was 112° actual air temp here in OKC yesterday. Can you say hot? That was a near all time state record. I was out most of the late afternoon in EV full ECO everything including the A/C and I was quite comfortable including ending the drive with a ECO score of 98. Can't do that if you crank down the A/C. So I can testify that the Prime's A/C is amazing.



PS, no this was not just road heat. When I left the house, it was 109.9° and rising fast.

 

I set AC to 72F and the impact to EV range is very noticeable. The mile per kWh is reduced at least 0.5, but in Sacramento it is around 100F so I am not surprised.