Maybe with pre-cooling the interior with the solar roof fans and remote a/c, it can get by with a less powerful a/c system, but that leaves out the people who don't buy the heavily loaded models. Since it's only May, maybe not many people have had a chance to test the performance in truly hot temps, but how does it seem so far?
Heating/Cooling capacity on paper for the 2001-2003: Heating: 5300W A/C: 4200W Cooling capacity on paper for 2004-2009: Heating: 5300W A/C: 4500W Cooling capacity on paper for the 2010: Heater: 5200W Cooling: 4920W So over the generations, cooling has improved, however it would seem we lost 100W of overall capacity for heating.
I have seen no difference in cooling ability. It will freeze your nuts off if you so desire. But then, it is only May. The solar roof works well, althought due to radiated heat off of surfaces, not as cool as outside air. Very effective when used with sun shade in windshield and leaving windows cracked ever so slightly.
I just purchased a 2009 model and love the air-conditioner. Especially in comparison to the VW Passat I got rid of. I did not realize the heat was also electric.
Wouldn't the exhaust heat recovery system lend a hand here? I thought that system was going to be able to recover about one-third of the otherwise-lost energy going out the tailpipe.
I think the heating capacity is more of a function of the hottest coolant passing through the heat exchanger/radiator while the blower operates at the max speed allowed.
So . . . Does this mean that we've lost some blower capacity, but because the exhaust heat recovery system is in place we'll get heat sooner (just not as forcefully)?
For those who missed it, here's a story and thread on the new A/C unit: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...-system-first-car-use-ejector-technology.html
I love the comments about how it will "freeze your nuts off", from people in cool climates. The green house affect of the acre of glass in the southwestern states tells a different story.
Your assumption that "heavily loaded models", (in other words those who spend the big bucks), somehow get a different AC system than those who say get a model II, is incorrect, I believe. All models have the same AC system as I understaand it. Now the yet to be released model I may be a different story.
On the day I picked up my P III, outside temp was 102*. I had climate control set to 77 with fan one of the middle-to-higher speeds. I turned the fan speed down a notch or two as it was too cold. Now it may get a bit uncomforable for riders in the back seat if the sun is directly shining on them. There are no rear seat vents to get AC directly to the rear seats. Next on my list is window tint to help with that situation.
The air conditioner on my P II has worked very well for me. I have had the car for over a week in 95-100+ degree Texas weather and have enjoyed how quickly the car cools down, especially for the first few days when I could not roll down the windows because of the tinting install.
