Electric A/C Compressor?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have been very bored lately and thinking a lot ( see my other threads!). One of the things I have thought about is an electric A/C compressor instead of an engine driven unit that could be used in cases where accessory drive space is needed elsewhere. I think the Prius uses one, but I can't really get any good information about the system, nor can I seem to find an aftermarket conversion kit using a similar concept. Does anyone have any information on such a component and where it could be sourced from? How expensive would it really be? My other idea would be to run a belt drive to an automotive compressor with the clutch welded up to a electric motor to drive it. The cycle switch would just cut the motor on and off as needed, so the clutch would be redundant.

 

[dan2286]

I dont think you would see any gains from doing it. Their would be added weight from the electric motor and brackets and their would be a lot of added strain on the charging system. They use them in hybrids, but heir electrical system is completely different from a normal car and can probably handle it no problem. If it was actually beneficial, auto makers would be doing that with modern cars, gas powered, not hybrids.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

It's actually a packaging question, not a performance improvement question. It comes from my bike engine in a car idea. Bike engines have no front accessory drives, so there is no way to run a compressor off the engine easily. Plus, doing it electrically would permit putting the A/C components in the front of the car without the long hoses needed if it were on the engine in a mid or rear engined car. You could also use it for a cleaner engine bay as the compressor could be mounted behind the bumper in a G body, and the lines run between the inner fender and the outer fender, thus keeping the A/C system out of the engine bay. Also, because the A/C compressor is no longer engine driven, it would mean that you could run high RPM's with the A/C on without grenading the compressor.

 

[joe_padavano]

I have been very bored lately and thinking a lot ( see my other threads!). One of the things I have thought about is an electric A/C compressor instead of an engine driven unit that could be used in cases where accessory drive space is needed elsewhere. I think the Prius uses one, but I can't really get any good information about the system, nor can I seem to find an aftermarket conversion kit using a similar concept. Does anyone have any information on such a component and where it could be sourced from? How expensive would it really be? My other idea would be to run a belt drive to an automotive compressor with the clutch welded up to a electric motor to drive it. The cycle switch would just cut the motor on and off as needed, so the clutch would be redundant.

All the new hybrid cars are going to electrically driven accessories to allow them to work when the car is electrically powered only. You'll be seeing more of this in the coming years. The problem is that 12VDC really limits the power. Many manufacturers are looking at higher voltages. BMW was working on a 42 VDC automotive electrical system a few years ago.

 

[phaZe]

I have been very bored lately and thinking a lot ( see my other threads!). One of the things I have thought about is an electric A/C compressor instead of an engine driven unit that could be used in cases where accessory drive space is needed elsewhere. I think the Prius uses one, but I can't really get any good information about the system, nor can I seem to find an aftermarket conversion kit using a similar concept. Does anyone have any information on such a component and where it could be sourced from? How expensive would it really be? My other idea would be to run a belt drive to an automotive compressor with the clutch welded up to a electric motor to drive it. The cycle switch would just cut the motor on and off as needed, so the clutch would be redundant.

All the new hybrid cars are going to electrically driven accessories to allow them to work when the car is electrically powered only. You'll be seeing more of this in the coming years. The problem is that 12VDC really limits the power. Many manufacturers are looking at higher voltages. BMW was working on a 42 VDC automotive electrical system a few years ago.

I believe they are moving it up to like 18 volts in a few years, if not next year.