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No A/C, Windows Open for Summer Driving Doesn't Save Fuel
Conventional wisdom suggests that rolling down windows and turning off the A/C during summer driving can help improve fuel economy. However, a group of SAE International engineers hope to enlighten drivers about this misconception.
by Staff
August 7, 20151 min to read
Conventional wisdom suggests that rolling down windows and turning off the A/C during summer driving can help improve fuel economy. However, a group of SAE International engineers hope to enlighten drivers about this misconception.
The members of the group's Interior Climate Control Standards Committee have authored a paper that acknowledges the heavy energy-consuming A/C system but reports that the increased drag created by the open windows counteracts the improved fuel economy of cutting off climate controls.
The impact of A/C use on a vehicle's fuel economy can be as much as 30 percent for full A/C use versus turning off the system, according to the report.
Read the full report here.
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