100% range: HVAC off, HVAC on

[Nick Shrauger]

I have driven two previous BEVs, and both showed a significant drop in available range mileage when HVAC is turned on.

I recently was able to drive the 2024 Equinox EV 3RS AWD. I was surprised that my available range did not change when I toggled Heat/AC on and off as my previous BEV did.

I am reasonably certain that even efficient heat-pump HVAC takes energy to function.

Is this experience unique? If software engineers are not showing the HVAC loss, have they reserved some level of battery energy for HVAC that they do not reflect in the mileage guess-o-meter?

Please let me know your experiences and thoughts on this topic.

 

[Guimary]

In my MINI Cooper SE, I can cool the cabin down to 60 degrees in 5-10 minutes on the eco setting with the lowest fan speed. Impressively, it doesn't seem to significantly impact the battery range.

 

[Fafy]

I’ve experienced something similar with my 2024 Genesis Electrified GV70. When I first toggled the HVAC, I noticed the range estimate barely budged, which was a stark contrast to my previous EV, where turning on the heat could shave 10-15 miles off instantly.

I later found out that the GV70 uses a heat pump system, which is highly efficient compared to older resistive heaters. However, I suspect manufacturers might account for typical HVAC energy use upfront to avoid alarming drivers. It could be worth digging into the owner's manual or contacting the dealer to confirm if energy for HVAC is pre-allocated in the range calculation.

 

[FastlaneFan13]

I have driven two previous BEVs, and both showed a significant drop in available range mileage when HVAC is turned on.

I recently was able to drive the 2024 Equinox EV 3RS AWD. I was surprised that my available range did not change when I toggled Heat/AC on and off as my previous BEV did.

I am reasonably certain that even efficient heat-pump HVAC takes energy to function.

Is this experience unique? If software engineers are not showing the HVAC loss, have they reserved some level of battery energy for HVAC that they do not reflect in the mileage guess-o-meter?

Please let me know your experiences and thoughts on this topic.

GM might be holding back some battery power just for the AC and heat. So, the range you see is probably already using some of that battery juice...

 

[Road_BoyKilah]

That's a weird. Usually HVAC sucks up some juice and you see it on the range. Maybe the Equinox EV's got some super efficient heat pump or they've tweaked the software to hide the drain. It's possible they're keeping a buffer zone in the battery for HVAC and not showing it on the range meter. Or maybe it was just a short test drive and you didn't see the real impact?