What kind of AC is in the 2014 Hybrid

[larrylwill]

I have a 2014 Fusion Hybrid. The other day I was sitting at Sonic around 6 pm the outside temp was in the high 80s. I never turned off the ignition and the AC kept running even though the engine was off. I noticed it would run for about 15 min before the engine started and ran for about 5 min then it shut off again, all the while the AC kept the car cool. The battery gauge was about 1/2 and when it got to about 1/4 the engine would start.

So whats powering the compressor? Is it a dc motor? It cant be the engine because it wasn't ruining most of the time.

[murphy]

It's powered by the high voltage battery. The engine came on to recharge the battery.

[hybridbear]

The AC has a variable speed electric compressor. The FFH has no belts for any accessories. Everything is electric.

[Cobra348]

I have a 2014 Fusion Hybrid. The other day I was sitting at Sonic around 6 pm the outside temp was in the high 80s. I never turned off the ignition and the AC kept running even though the engine was off. I noticed it would run for about 15 min before the engine started and ran for about 5 min then it shut off again, all the while the AC kept the car cool. The battery gauge was about 1/2 and when it got to about 1/4 the engine would start.

So whats powering the compressor? Is it a dc motor? It cant be the engine because it wasn't ruining most of the time.

Suggestion ... if you haven't done so - and are wanting to understand more about your car - might I suggest looking through this thread? It's got a lot of the answers for "how does this work?" type questions along with technical stuff. I've done a pick and choose on the materials and it's helped a lot!

[larrylwill]

Thanks for the answers, thanks for the link, I never knew they made a variable speed compressor with motor. I assume its DC. I wonder how much current it uses?

[mwr]

I have a 2014 Fusion Hybrid. The other day I was sitting at Sonic around 6 pm the outside temp was in the high 80s. I never turned off the ignition and the AC kept running even though the engine was off. I noticed it would run for about 15 min before the engine started and ran for about 5 min then it shut off again, all the while the AC kept the car cool. The battery gauge was about 1/2 and when it got to about 1/4 the engine would start.

So whats powering the compressor? Is it a dc motor? It cant be the engine because it wasn't ruining most of the time.

My 2015 operates the same way. About a week ago I had a 30 minute phone call in a parking lot and it was too noisy with he windows open, so I closed the windows and left the engine on using AC; the ICE cycled on and off just like you described.

[lolder]

It's provided with high voltage dc from the HVB but it has an integral variable frequency inverter that converts it to AC. It can draw several kilowatts. A three kilowatt draw at 280 V would be about 10 amps. The HVB is capable of about 230 amps discharge rate for 10 seconds.

[Frank F]

So the AC compressor has no clutch? Since it's variable speed, it wouldn't need one would it? Because with clutches they are only engaged or disengaged, and when engaged spinning the compressor at a speed proportional to engine speed.

So we won't hear the distinctive clutch engaging / disengaging click.

Since the engine isn't needed to power the compressor, is it still mounted in the "front belt plane"? It wouldn't need to be - no belt turning the compressor. Although for historical reasons I could see it still mounted there, but most certainly doesn't need to be.

[Waldo]

So the AC compressor has no clutch? Since it's variable speed, it wouldn't need one would it? Because with clutches they are only engaged or disengaged, and when engaged spinning the compressor at a speed proportional to engine speed.

 

So we won't hear the distinctive clutch engaging / disengaging click.

 

Since the engine isn't needed to power the compressor, is it still mounted in the "front belt plane"? It wouldn't need to be - no belt turning the compressor. Although for historical reasons I could see it still mounted there, but most certainly doesn't need to be.

 

Well the definition of a clutch is something that connects two moving parts. But the compressor is not connected to another moving part, so obviously no clutch. As an aside though, most of Ford's newer vehicles use a variable speed compressor now, but they do still have a clutch since that variable speed can never be zero. So you won't hear that distinctive clutch click on any Fusion unless you turn the system on or off.

 

True that you could mount the compressor anywhere, but for NVH reasons you'd want it attached to the powertrain so the engine mounts could be used to filter out any vibrations. Plus the hybrid's engine block is still shared with other non-hybrid vehicles, so the mounting system is already there.