Air Conditioning Systems: ADAC Test 2012 "Automatic Cooling" Saves Fuel

The ADAC has determined that air conditioning systems need the most fuel. Result: Fully electronic systems pay off in the company.

According to the ADAC consume fully automatic air conditioning significantly less fuel than semi-automatic or fully manual systems. This was the car club out in a new test, which he examined the energy consumption of different air conditioning systems. Accordingly, the particularly low fuel consumption, if a fully automatic air conditioning in the "auto mode" completely self-regulates the temperature of the interior. In the case of fuel consumption is rising by a modest five to six percent.

It makes sense for the lowest possible energy consumption - depending on ambient temperature - a setting 21 to 23 degrees. Use semi-automatic systems (here, the temperature is manually adjusted by the fan) is slightly longer, but are cheaper to purchase. Manual systems consume, especially in city traffic and a lot of fuel at idle. In order to keep consumption to a minimum, they should be adjusted so that the cool air comes out of the upper jets: the head is cool for most people more comfortable than cold feet.

Overall, a cool interior is cheaper today than in previous years, says the ADAC. In the test of time, there was an average additional consumption of 10 to 15 percent across all three systems. In city traffic, consumption increased by 0.54 liters per 100 kilometers on. Outside urban areas (at around 100 km / h average speed) amounts to the additional fuel consumption is about 0.3 liters per 100 kilometers. Percentage is the consumption of air conditioners idle at its highest. Across all three systems, the consumption of time here was up by 0.4 liters per hour.

The drivers can be done in order to cool the interior and protect your wallet: Before you start driving, you should open windows at once is well ventilated. Heat-insulating glass reduces the temperature in the car significantly. In general, the longer window, the more heat up the interior. The Auto Color plays a lesser role than the way many think. Whether a car is a bright or a dark color is, according to the ADAC makes the interior of a difference of one to two degrees.