[LongDrives]

I have been driving and EV since past few months. Also have many colleagues, friends and family owning EVs. Through their word of mouth, some comments in this August forum and my personal experience, have noticed a huge issue with EVs.

Air-conditioning doesn't work effectively!

This is especially in summers and parking the car under the hot sun. This is also noted on long journey during the daytime. There have been instances this summer while driving the AC is not effective at all and had to drive it sweating the entire journey. Workshop visits point out no issues at all. Some suggested toggling with drive modes, others are frustrated. Comparatively ICE cars drive issueless in hot and humid conditions. AC starts working instantly.

The cars I have heard have the issues are:

• Tata Punch
• Tata Nexon
• BYD Otto 3
• MG ZS EV
• Mahindra XEV 9e
• BMW X1 LBW

EV owner please comment on the issue if you have faced any.

[GoBabyGo]

Hi, please add in-effective AC performance in Kia EV 6 and Windsor EV (both the EVs are with my boss). These EVs are primarily used in Noida and NCR.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Please understand that EVs, most certainly those from Tata, sometimes direct the cooling from the passenger cabin towards the battery. This is done to protect the battery from damage. The driver can feel the additional sound and mild vibrations from a supplemental fan that turns on somewhere behind the dashboard whenever this happens. This happens only when temperatures are above 40 degrees.

This diversion of cooling leads to the AC suddenly feeling less effective. This happens only for a few minutes and then normalises. You can always manually override this by using the Xpress Cool function, which puts the AC to full blast mode and directs all cooling towards the cabin.

Have no doubt, the AC is an absolute chiller.

[ALTIMAed]

Fortunately for me, (a Comet owner), the AC of my car is a chiller. It has been used extensively in the 2024 Summer and well as till date - no AC cooling concerns what so ever.

[LongDrives]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Pls understand that EVs, most certainly those from Tata, sometimes direct the cooling from the passenger cabin towards the battery. This is done to protect the battery from damage. The driver can feel the additional sound and mild vibrations from a supplemental fan that turns on somewhere behind the dashboard whenever this happens. This happens only when temperatures are above 40 degrees.

This diversion of cooling leads to the AC suddenly feeling less effective. This happens only for a few minutes and then normalises. You can always manually override this by using the Xpress Cool function, which puts the AC to full blast mode and directs all cooling towards the cabin.

Have no doubt, the AC is an absolute chiller.

The issue is the battery pack already has a coolant Circulation system in place that has liquid coolant running through out. Did you mean the fan of the radiator that is connected to the coolant tank? Does it mean the AC and the battery pack are connected to a single radiator?

Xpress Cool function is in the ICE variant of the Nexon. Not in the EV car. The only way you can make the AC work is switching on to the Sports Mode for 30-60 second every 15-20 minutes or completely driving to Sports mode.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by LongDrives

The issue is the battery pack already has a coolant Circulation system in place that has liquid coolant running through out. Did you mean the fan of the radiator that is connected to the coolant tank? Does it mean the AC and the battery pack are connected to a single radiator?

Xpress Cool function is in the ICE variant of the Nexon. Not in the EV car. The only way you can make the AC work is switching on to the Sports Mode for 30-60 second every 15-20 minutes or completely driving to Sports mode.

I am unsure about the exact mechanicals, but I can confirm that an additional fan switches on somewhere inside whenever it gets really hot. Whenever that happens, AC cooling inside the cabin reduces simultaneously. Obviously, the cooling is being redirected somewhere.

I drive a Nexon EV LR, and it does come with the Xpress Cool function. XpressCool can be activated even in Eco mode.

[CarCanvas]

I have used Windsor in peak April/May heat around 43 Degrees.

If the car was parked in shade then you will not have any AC issues, you need to crank up the fan to level 5-6 though for back seat passengers. For front passengers only level 2-3 is enough.

But if the car has been parked in sun, then AC is insufficient. All through out the journey it will not cool down the cabin effectively. But then this is the case for petrol/diesel cars having big windows too. AC will simply not be able to cool down the car. Better way to keep cabin heating up using transparent heat rejection films / sunshades / car covers.

[LongDrives]

Originally Posted by CarCanvas

But then this is the case for petrol/diesel cars having big windows too. AC will simply not be able to cool down the car. Better way to keep cabin heating up using transparent heat rejection films / sunshades / car covers.

I beg to differ. My 10 year old Creta cools the cabin instantly. ICE car ACs depend upon the engine. So it starts working instantly.

[atin001]

AC in my XUV 400 is a chiller. Even when parked in the sun for hours, I can get it to cool down within a minute.

I simply open all the windows for a bit when getting in the hot car and crank the AC to max.

[shivanshbhatt]

I have been using Punch Ev for the last 3 months and I can say with confidence that the AC is pretty good in Rajasthan summer(more than 40 degrees). Have driver more than 5k KMs in the last 3 months. I don't drive this car for extended durations of more than 1hr though.

[raghukodali]

Creta electric chills to the bone.

[car_crazy1400]

Well, I have been using my BYD seal in the Delhi heat daily between Delhi - Noida.

The ac performance varies, depending on the direct heat from the sun as it a glass roof. And full ac does bleed the battery in the afternoon.

However, I have more issues with the useless electronically adjustment of the ac vents, especially on the driver's side. I keep on fiddling with the touchscreen to set it to my preference. As soon as you put the ac on auto, the vents starts swing motion..

Again making me feel like a chump and adjusting the vents again..
Ac is a chiller though.

[Lego28]

i Have no such issues with my Ioniq5 either.
My car is parked under the sun all day at work.
I keep the temps between 23-24 with auto 1 (lowest auto mode, it has 3).
Always Drive in ECO mode, which again dulls down the AC performance.
The AC is set to driver vent only, which turns off the passenger side fan.
Cools the cabin in no time.
Worth mentioning that I have Garware 70% VLT installed on all windows/ windshield and Sunkool sunroof film on the roof.

[speedmiester]

My earlier MG ZS EV took a longer time to cool the cabin especially in the rear. My current BMW iX1, doesn't have much issue in the AC department. The max AC feature cools the cabin quickly but the consumption takes a big hit.

[svsantosh]

My 'observed' experience from a Tesla Y (my colleague in Dubai owns one) is very different.

1) Cabin-Keep-Cool feature is a boon when parked under the harsh 50+'C UAE sun - he has set it at 27'c IIRC, and then once he gets into the car he chills it further.

2) The large moon roof is not the smartest built in feature in a car for GCC/MEA summers (8+ months a year) - I literally forced the thought of an expensive 100% solar guard sun film on the 2 front, 4 side and 1 top/roof glass.

HUGE benefit after adding the solar guard sun film, it is all the more a 'MUST HAVE' if the Indian EV cars have weak AC cooling.