Impact of Fan to EV Miles

I have seen an impact, but I dont recall seeing that much of an impact, usually something around 0.5-0.6 miles, if I recall.

Maybe it depends on whether you have a full battery or not. If you have 12 miles EV range and it thinks the fan may be on over the whole range, then it's estimating that the loss over the 12 miles may be 1.2 miles, for example. But if you turned the fan on with only 6 EV miles left, it would be less of an impact (which is my case from what I remember).

I'll try it out when I leave work today.

 

John reported it as well: http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-prius-plug-in/105347-phv-prius-owner-videos-2.html#post1507987

 

Yes, i've seen that a few times recently.

Pollen wasn't bad today after coming back from meeting 9Gman, and opening windows and turning off fan got me the last mile home with 0.5 EV left.

 

I don't think your really loosing all that mileage running the fan. I think again it's the computer estimating what it thinks might happen. All you can do is drive and see. Try setting the temp to Low then see if you get the same result with the fan.

 

House fans are around 40 watts. If the ~ 3 kw of a full traction battery are used up in 30 minutes of driving, the fan is responsible for 40/6000 = less than 1%, equal to 425 feet of range. If the 'c's fan is a monster at 120 watts, then it has grabbed 2% of the capacity, or about 1200 feet.

Regardless, I would not be quick to turn off the fan. It cools the battery, too.
Those interested in estimating fan power draw can derive the number from the car's estimate of range remaining while the car is running at say 30 mph and 40 mph, fan on or off.

ps -- I wonder what the car says when the fan is turned on and the car is stationary LOL

 

I have also notice that the projected mileage decreases by 1 mile when the fan is turned on. I haven't been able to do a controlled test to see what the actual degradation is.

 

I agree what you're noticing is just the Estimate of the computer.
Document the miles with and without the fan two days in a row.

 

I tried the fan tonight, heat and AC off, and it did drop like a rock, yet a few days ago I had it on for my whole trip and still got 12 EV range.

 

My fan was set to low last night and when I turned off the fan my EV miles jumped from 5.4 to 6.0 miles.

 

When I left work I had 11.9 EV miles. I turned on the fan and it dropped by 1.3.

 

I can only speak from a standard Prius perspective, but the fan running at two bars will drop the battery a bar after a few minutes while waiting for someone at a store, add AC and it drops drastically! I imagine it's the same for the PiP.

 

A/C drops charge from 12.7 to 11.3 here in Arizona. Drops at least a point.

 

I don't have a PiP, but I have a similar experience with my Leaf. If I turn the vent on, the range estimator drops the same as if the A/C compressor were on. I think it just looks to see if the HVAC system is on or off and doesn't pay much attention to what the actual setting is. Typically I crack or roll down my windows leaving the A/C off completely unless I have passengers in the car. I've always been like that, even when I drove a Prius and even before that with standard gasoline cars. It just seems like a waste of energy to run the A/C when there is cooler air outside.

I'll admit that during July and August here in Texas, I do find myself running the A/C, though.. 106 degrees is just too hot.

 

But did your trip to work come up 1.3miles less in EV mode less?

 

I dont use the fan at all right now.

I've been consistently getting to work with about 1.0 to 1.4 miles of EV range remaining (and this is leaving the house with ~12 miles EV displaying and a 13.4-14.5 mile commute). If I remember to, I'll try this on my Monday morning commute and see what I end up with when I get to work.