So I know driving takes gas, and having my lights on costs battery power. But somehow driving charges the battery? Does that cost me extra gas? And what actually costs me gas also? Does standing still with the motor on cost me gas? If I have heating on max? If I have airco on max? What kind of driving costs more or less gas? I am so confused with this all. I dont feel like I am doing anything insane in my car, but still the total amount of km I can drive varies so much on a full gas tank. It goes from 600 to 400 and I have no idea why. I hope there is someone who can explain this to me
In: Engineering
The engine use gas whenever it’s running, even if the car doesn’t move.
In a car, every system is powered either by the engine, or the battery, which is in turn recharged by the engine. Whenever something use power (be it to move the car or light the headlights) it will cause the engine to run “harder” to generate that power, or drain the battery, which will in turn require the engine to run “harder” to recharge it. Running the engine “harder” eats more gas.
One notable exception to this is the heating, which reuses the eat of the engine which is normally dumped outside.
> It goes from 600 to 400 and I have no idea why. I hope there is someone who can explain this to me
Gas consumption by km also depends on speed. Going faster consume more gas per km.
Other things that can add to your gas consumption are:
* AC. “traditional” AC is extraordinarily energy expensive and thus can increase your mileage by a shitton (You can actually feel this if you have a low power car, some vehicles are noticeably more sluggish with the AC on: I had to turn off the AC to be able to get to the top of a mountain once)
* Load. A loaded car is heavier and thus require more energy to move.
* Starting & stopping.
* Running the engine cold
Things like headlights do consume some amount energy, but it is very very small compared to the amount needed to get the car moving.
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