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Old August 16th 09, 10:23 AM posted to uk.transport.london
Recliner[_2_] Recliner[_2_] is offline
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Default Walk-through trains

"Michael R N Dolbear" wrote in message
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Peter Campbell Smith wrote

Even if that is true and relevant, the standard car figures have the
windows closed (as well as AirCon.excluded/ off).


I don't know the real answer either, but a car with aircon is
carrying the extra weight around all year, and there must also be a
slight extra drag on the engine all year as the belt to the aircon
compressor is turning all the time.

If the car stays in the UK, especially the more northern parts, I
would imagine that cost of that over 365 days is just as significant
as the


additional fuel cost when the aircon is running for, say, 20 days in
the year.


Which reminds me that the energy usage figures for electric cars don't
include winter heating either. One of the advantages of internal
combustion is that heating is almost free whereas in Britain (and even
more so in Canada) an electric has to use resistance heating. Making
sure the battery doesn't freeze is also required.


And, presumably, electric cars don't have enough juice to provide
air-conditioning? Even if they do, it's something else to shorten the
range.