How does this work? I have AC in my car but as soon as I turn the engine off it won't work anymore, gradually getting hotter. I don't suppose people just leave their engine running?
Tesla air conditioning is run by electric motor (since, no gas engine) so the owner turns on “dog mode” via the touch screen, and the computer keeps the car cool.
Edit: Just to be clear, this is a separate electric motor from the main drive motor(s). So you stay cool at stoplights. 🙂
The motor isn't in use here, only the battery and AC. Purely electric cars have a large battery and use an electric motor to drive the wheels, but can also use the battery for AC and other functions when the car isn't being driven.
You can still use the AC while driving, the battery has more than enough current to support the motor and AC at the same time - you just need to be aware of how much energy you're using, as it can reduce your range.
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u/Pikachu_91 Dec 12 '19
How does this work? I have AC in my car but as soon as I turn the engine off it won't work anymore, gradually getting hotter. I don't suppose people just leave their engine running?