What does this research mean for the field?

A newly proposed thermal model accurately predicts mobile air-conditioning (MAC) energy consumption across vehicle powertrains, demonstrating that initial cabin temperature and seat masses significantly impact energy use, while cabin size has a negligible effect. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop and validate a thermal simulation model for vehicle mobile air-conditioning systems to evaluate cabin cooling dynamics, energy demand, and emissions across electrified and internal combustion powertrains during standardized drive cycles.

August 28, 2026Energy ReportsOpen Access

Simulation of mobile air-conditioning energy in electrified and conventional vehicles

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Authors

SGSusana Gil-SayasUniversitat Politècnica de València GPGiuseppe Di PierroJoint Research Centre ABAlberto BroatchUniversitat Politècnica de València

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Implication

Simulation study demonstrates mobile air-conditioning energy demand across vehicle powertrains, highlighting substantial penalties for electric range and tailpipe emissions.

Key Points

To develop and validate a thermal simulation model for vehicle mobile air-conditioning systems to evaluate cabin cooling dynamics, energy demand, and emissions across electrified and internal combustion powertrains during standardized drive cycles.
Simulated air conditioning compressor power requirements using a semi-ideal vapour-compression cycle regulated by a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller for refrigerant mass flow rate.
Calibrated theoretical heat transfer coefficients and validated the thermal model stepwise against published literature, wind tunnel experiments, and chassis-dynamometer WLTP tests within a climatic cell.
At an ambient temperature of 35 °C during a WLTC, mobile air-conditioning energy consumption reached approximately 950 Wh for battery electric vehicles, 790 Wh for internal combustion engine vehicles, and 760 Wh versus 260 Wh for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in charge-depleting and charge-sustaining modes, respectively.
Associated cooling greenhouse gas emissions were calculated at approximately 9.7 gCO2 eq/km for battery electric vehicles, 36 gCO2 eq/km for internal combustion vehicles, and 7.8 compared to 13.9 gCO2 eq/km for plug-in hybrids in charge-depleting versus charge-sustaining modes.
Energy demand was heavily governed by ambient temperature, initial cabin temperature, seat thermal mass, and PID controller tuning, whereas vehicle cabin volume produced negligible effects.

Cite This Study

Gil-Sayas et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a914599d15324a1df3a8dda https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2026.109522

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Implication

Simulation study demonstrates mobile air-conditioning energy demand across vehicle powertrains, highlighting substantial penalties for electric range and tailpipe emissions.

Simulation of mobile air-conditioning energy in electrified and conventional vehicles

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Simulation of mobile air-conditioning energy in electrified and conventional vehicles

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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