Running heat with AC on?

[nismowu]

So when I trun the AC on I noticed the estimated range dropped about 10% and same thing when I turn the heater on.
However, when I already have the AC on and then turn the heat on, the range doesn't change, and vise versa.
Does it not use more energy to have both of them running?

I have the 2014 S trim so it's using the resistance heater instead of the heat pump.

 

[kovalb]

The effect on range will vary depending upon system loads. The heater will consume more as it gets colder and the A/C consumes more as the weather gets hotter. My guess is you are using A/C and Heat together to defog, as it was intended, at moderate temperatures. This would make it an apples and oranges comparison.

 

[ytrottier]

There's only one heat pump that does both heating and cooling. When you run both, it's removing heat and humidity with the evaporator (#5 in the image) and releasing that heat (but not humidity) with the condenser. (#4) That doesn't warm up or cool down your car, but neither does it use any more energy than using the grill radiator (#1) as a condenser or evaporator. Useful for defogging.

 

[cwerdna]

ytrottier, not sure what you reply is about. The OP has an S trim. There is no heat pump heater on that trim.

OP, I wouldn't pay a whole lot attention to the GOM (guess-o-meter).

 

[garsh]

My guess is you are using A/C and Heat together to defog, as it was intended, at moderate temperatures.

This is undoubtedly what is happening.

I've installed a switch to keep the heater off in my 2012. Now whenever I turn on the AC it only shows 1 mile drop in range on the GOM. The Leaf will otherwise start heating up the fluid used by the heater, and that really uses a lot of power.