1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Automatic Air Conditioner

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by nated1455, Aug 9, 2011.

  1. nated1455

    nated1455 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    New Berlin
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hi this is probably a foolish question with a simple answer, but I'd still appreciate one. When I turn on the air conditioner using the remote, does it use the gas engine or the hybrid battery to power that? If it has been sitting out in the sun all day, does the solar roof power the air conditioner? Thanks!

    Nate
     
    #1 nated1455, Aug 9, 2011
  2. goober_nut

    goober_nut Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    68
    4
    0
    Location:
    Champaign, IL
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    When you press the AC button on your fob, it will use the battery and gas engine to run the compressor.

    The solar panels on your roof ONLY power a fan, for about 3 minutes at a time, to keep the temperature similar to outside (assuming you've enabled it before leaving your car) so that you don't get in a crazy hot car.
     
    #2 goober_nut, Aug 9, 2011
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,933
    16,155
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Actually, the Remote Air Conditioning System (world's first) does NOT use the gas engine to run the compressor. It runs off the hybrid battery until the battery runs out (2 bars) or 3 minutes have passed whichever is first. It is meant to supplement the Solar Panel Ventilation System.

    The SPVS powers the fan (your fan motors have been beefed up compared to cars without the SPVS). After you stop the car, the vehicle will open the vent after 1 minute and start ventilating at 10 minutes (depending on how hot it gets inside the car and how much solar energy it can receive. It will run intermittently or continually depending on how much power it's receiving so don't be alarmed if you get into the car and it's not running and you think it's broken.

    The Remote A/C just helps further cool the interior if you wish (and of course works best if the SPVS already vented out the hot air). It will use the last setting on your climate control (so if you had it at MAX COLD before you shut off the car, that's the setting it'll use. If you had it at 78°F, that's the setting it'll use).

    Two things to note:

    The SPVS will continue to run even if you unlock the car and open any of the doors or the hatch. It will turn off if you start the car or press the SPVS button on the left side of the dash to turn it off.

    The Remote A/C however will shut off if you open any door and the whole system (the SPVS) will restart in 10 minutes.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Aug 9, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  4. fulltank

    fulltank New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2011
    230
    38
    0
    Location:
    Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Didn't want to start a new thread and thought this one was as good as any...

    Anyway, I purchased my new Prius last Oct and have not really experienced really HOT weather. How badly will my MPGs be affected if i have a bad of habit of having my AC cranked all the time?
     
    #4 fulltank, Feb 28, 2012
  5. Royal5280

    Royal5280 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    49
    1
    0
    Location:
    Dallas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Tideland- thanks for the heads up. About to pick one of these up and that is certainly a valid question. Is there any feedback on the reliability of this whole package? Is it even offered anymore or was it a one-hit wonder?
     
    #5 Royal5280, Feb 28, 2012
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It depends on how long your trips are. Short trips and heavy AC use is a recipe for terrible mpg. On my GenII I observe a temporary 10mpg hit until cabin temps comes down. If I only drove 5 or 10 miles at a time my mpg would drop precipitously.
     
    #6 F8L, Feb 28, 2012
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,933
    16,155
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Np.

    So far so good. I turn it off in the winter because sometimes it can run in early spring/late winter or late autumn/early winter on a sunny day (where the day is still long enough and the sun is still strong enough) but I really don't need it to run. Otherwise, I just leave it "on" all summer unless it's dusty.

    It's still offered on the Liftback model. The Prius v gets a resin panoramic moonroof and the Prius c gets a regular one so there are 3 types of moonroofs available for the Prius family.

    If the Prius v was lighter, it would've been nice to have it on the roof as well as it's a larger vehicle with more windows.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Feb 29, 2012
  8. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2012
    810
    313
    0
    Location:
    NE
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    My guess is that the original design of the roof did not allow for a sun roof. And someone convinced the Toyota higher ups that the whole solar roof would be a good idea.

    It sounds good on paper but adds little to the value of the vehicle and it prices the roof to a level to make it too expensive for many. Same for the A/C key control complexity -- give me better seats vs the solar roof panel and auto headlight vs the AC control.
     
    #8 yeldogt, Feb 29, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)