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World's leading manufacturer of Bus Air Conditioner and Truck Refrigeration Units

How Electric Car AC Compressors Work – And Why They’re Better

Apr 28, 2025
We know that in traditional gasoline-powered automobiles, even if the engine is not started and the AC switch is turned on, the air conditioning will not cool.  In the summer, if you want the air conditioning to chill the car before you get in, you must first start the engine remotely.  However, this is not an issue for new energy vehicles, which can chill the air conditioning without starting the engine.  

Air conditioning refrigeration works on the same principle; nevertheless, why are the functions so different?
 

Because of The Two Vehicles' Varying Air Conditioning Compressors

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Vehicles Fuelled by Fuel

Fuel-powered cars have mechanically operated air conditioning compressors.  Power comes from the engine's crankshaft, which a belt transmits.  The compressor will not run should the engine not run.  Consequently, the air conditioning in fuel-powered cars runs on engine power, which causes more fuel use.

Vehicles of New Energy

Conversely, new energy cars employ electric compressors.  These compressors run off the car's traction battery and are driven straight by electric motors.  The air conditioner can keep blowing cool air, so preserving a comfortable temperature inside the car, so long as the battery has sufficient charge.  Without depending on the engine, this lets modern energy cars activate their air conditioners remotely and maintain the cabin cool even when parked.

Why do EVs utilise electric car AC compressors?

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  • Fulfilling the requirements of electric drive  
 Traction batteries or fuel cells in new energy cars replace internal combustion engines.  Though they have internal combustion engines, hybrid cars are not the main power source; the engine usually stays off. So, they cannot offer consistent drive for conventional mechanically powered compressors, which leads to electric compressor for car.
 Electric compressors run on electricity.  Early designs featured a stated supply voltage of roughly 400V. The rated supply voltage of new electric compressor for car has also risen to 800V with the progressive deployment of 800V systems in new energy cars.
 
  • Compatibility with systems of heat pump air conditioning  
 EV car AC compressors are also required for cabin heating in addition. The thermal management system of modern energy cars using heat pump air conditioning as a heating device has to alternate between cooling and heating modes.  The air conditioning runs in cooling mode when the refrigerant flow direction transfers heat from within the car to outside; the reverse is true for heating mode.  Electric car AC compressors can better coordinate with the control of the thermal management system of the air conditioning. 
 
  •  Vehicle thermal management optimisation  
Thermal management targets in new energy cars are the traction battery and drive motor.  Thermal management is a complicated system: on one hand, coolant is utilised to remove heat from the engine, battery, and power electronics; on the other hand, the warmed coolant is directed to a specific radiator, where it exchanges heat with low-temperature refrigerant to achieve cooling.  
The air conditioning compressor in a new energy vehicle must work as required to help the thermal management system cool vital components even if the air conditioning cooling function is not turned on. The intelligent regulation of the thermal management system is better served by electric compressor for car.

 

Guchen Offers Electric Car AC Compressors for New Energy Cars 

 
GUCHEN's electric compressors are compatible with mainstream automotive refrigerants such as R134a and R1234yf. This product features high efficiency, compact design, and effectively meets the air conditioning and thermal management needs of electric vehicles. Additionally, it offers advantages such as low energy consumption, quiet operation, lightweight construction, and high power density. It not only enhances cabin comfort but also supports precise thermal management to help extend the range of electric vehicles and improve charging speeds.
 
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