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Using the AC / Heat while parked for extended periods

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by jbkendrick, Jun 7, 2016.

  1. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    I've read other posts where owners report using previous gen for camping trips and leave the car on all night for AC/Heat. I have a similar but much shorter timed use case. When my wife is in shopping, I use my car as an office with laptop and phone going, and usually just bear the very hot days while parked for an hour, sometimes two. Would the 2016 Prius provide the opportunity to keep the car on in this way, and is there any detriment to its motors or electronics when keeping it on like this for extended periods of time. Thx, J
     
    #1 jbkendrick, Jun 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2016
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  2. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    1) you pollute and emit CO2 without end :eek::mad:
    2) the car is built to move around, not to keep it still in substitution of a house with A/C - it is inefficient, wasteful - the detriment is not to the car - but to the environment! :eek::rolleyes:
    3) you guys in the USA still are paying gas too cheaply - go at 4-5$/gal, then let's see if you want to camp a whole night with a car turned on all night (!!!) for AC use or 1-2hrs parked outside waiting for somebody. :cautious:

    PS: you have a car built to save the environment, to consume less, to emit as little CO2 as possible - it is simply beyond me to think you would want to keep it on standing still for hours instead of, at least, driving around...:confused:
     
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  3. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    You are correct of course. I will often find a Panera Bread or McDonald's with wifi to work in, but on the occasion we are not close to any appropriate places was the reason for my question. Probably only happens 5 to 6 times a year, so not often. And yes, we are very blessed with $2 per gallon fuel right now and have always been lower than our friends in the EU, so I'll keep that in mind as well and try not to be wasteful with our cheap energy. Thx, J
     
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    No problem, so long as you have enough gas. Just leave the car in Ready and power down stuff you don't need, like the headlights. The A/C is entirely electrical and will only run the engine if it needs more electricity. The heater uses hot coolant and can run the engine just to get hot water.

    I suspect Munich is less hot and humid than SC or MS.
     
    #4 JimboPalmer, Jun 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2016
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  5. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    Thanks JimboPalmer. The Baltimore/DC corridor where I live is unbearable with the humidity in the summer. We have some days with over 100 deg F and 80+ humidity, so AC is a nice commodity. J
     
  6. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    It is a great feature of our wonderful cars. To be able to have a portable comfort zone where ever we go, and at a very reasonable price. Don't try to sit and listen to the radio in ACC mode, that has proven to be harmful to the 12 volt battery on previous versions of the Prius.
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just like driving efficiency, the prius is very efficient sitting in stop and go traffic, or just sitting. very low fuel use and emissions. enjoy the cool!(y)
     
  8. snipercoder

    snipercoder Member

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    Like Pakitt says, the car is made to move around so that air can move through the grille and A/C condenser. Using the A/C while in Park is not efficient for any cars.
     
  9. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I absolutely would not idle a car without stop/start. It is just too wasteful. Since purchasing the Prius, I have no issues with running heat or AC for long periods of time. I haven't had to yet. For short periods, I run the AC really cold or the heat really hot prior to stopping so that I buy that much more time before it gets uncomfortable. Running AC for a couple of hours would be no issue to me. Be sure to use ECO mode to optimize fuel usage more.
     
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  10. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    There was a post thread on here about a forum member camping in his vehicle for about 8 hours at a time. Shame I cannot find the link, as he or she detailed and documented it well.
     
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  11. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    For the most part, not quite the way I see it.

    1) The Prius has a very efficient air conditioning system compared to other cars and I see its ability to maintain a comfortable environment while stationary with minimal energy use as one of the car's more interesting benefits.

    2) The Prius's greatest advantage compared to traditional cars appears to me to be when it is stationary or near stationary rather than when it is moving steadily down the road.

    3a) I agree that gas is far to cheap in North America but I think that 4-5$ / gallon is much too cheap to drive the changes that are needed. I'd rather see it taxed enough to raise the price to around $10 / gallon and the money raised used to smooth the changeover to a saner lifestyle and to reduce other taxes.

    3b) The Prius a/c is efficient enough that I wouldn't hesitate to keep it running while waiting for someone in the kind of summer heat that is common in most of North America. As for overnight; when the sun is down the energy required to keep the car comfortable drops dramatically and if I had to run the a/c all night to stay comfortable, I wouldn't hesitate to do so even if gasoline was $10/gallon.

    3c) If people want to save energy in hot weather, a better plan might be to turn the house a/c off, park the Prius in the shade with the a/c on and sit there until the temperature drops.

    PS I'm not sure how the Prius would use less energy driving rather than sitting in one place with the a/c on.
     
  12. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    I would never give politicians the chance to have a such a windfall from raising taxes with a "promise" to lower some other taxes. The lowering part just won't happen. They'll still cry that we need to spend more money to "Save the <put your pet project here> cause"or a "War on ...".

    The most efficient government is a government starved for tax dollars.
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think it's actually illegal to do protracted idling with a vehicle here, not that anyone abides by it, and it's not enforced. Cops are the worst offenders, cabbies in Prius a close second.

    Personally: car stopped? Shut it down.

    upload_2016-6-7_11-42-32.png
     
  14. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    I understand and this is helpful. Leaving in ACC mode is using the 12volt battery, whereas leaving the car on uses the lithium ion battery. And then when that is discharge the engine will start automatically and replenish then turn off. Sounds really great to me, and a benefit of a Prius that I never even thought about. Thx, J
     
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  15. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    #15 jbkendrick, Jun 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2016
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  16. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    I believe there are a few Prius owners that have outfitted their Prius as an emergency generator for occasions when the power at home goes out.
     
  17. Starship_Enterprius

    Starship_Enterprius Active Member

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    Oh don't let it bother you too much. Our cars already save tons by not idling in stop and go traffic and red lights. Your occasional 30 minutes in the parking is nothing compared to how much it daily saves. It is also nothing compared to the diesel burned in autobahn speeds pushing insane amounts of air.
     
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  18. jbkendrick

    jbkendrick Active Member

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    Thanks, but I have to admit I'm one of those you're referring to as I am currently driving a not so clean VW TDI. But I will be purchasing a 2016 Prius as soon as it arrives, and letting the VW sit in the driveway until VW pays me for it (hopefully later this summer).

    And I love your priuschat handle. My grandson calls the new prius the star wars car when I show him pictures. I've promised him that he will get the first ride in the front of the star craft ;)
     
  19. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    How well is that working for you?
     
  20. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    Too many Democrats reaching into my pocket to payoff their debts.