# Parking Air Conditioning? **Source:** https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/parking-air-conditioning.57784/ **Posts:** 25 --- ### — 2025-04-09T18:53:03+0200 (Apr 9, 2025) I was watching the review on the T7 Californa on CarWow with Mat Watson, he was showing the camping panel touch screen and he said that in camping mode you could use the air conditioning. Is this a new thing or is he just waffling? He implies it will work off the battery? Game changer for when we go to Spain and South of France! 10mins in --- ### S — 2025-04-09T20:36:14+0200 (Apr 9, 2025) I saw this too. My initial thoughts are that he’s got his wires crossed. I would think the PHEV version will do this as it’s pretty common for them to be able to heat and cool when parked, drawing power from the traction battery. I have this on my BMW and it’s very handy parked sat in the car waiting etc It’s not impossible the electric a/c compressor could be driven from the leisure battery in the petrol/diesel but I very much doubt it. Would be good if it did though! --- ### — 2025-04-09T20:47:20+0200 (Apr 9, 2025) > [rippers said:](/goto/post?id=742694) > > I was watching the review on the T7 Californa on CarWow with Mat Watson, he was showing the camping panel touch screen and he said that in camping mode you could use the air conditioning. Is this a new thing or is he just waffling? He implies it will work off the battery? Game changer for when we go to Spain and South of France! > > 10mins in > > Click to expand... On the Hybrid version. Works on my Hybrid Multivan. --- ### — 2025-04-09T22:01:25+0200 (Apr 9, 2025) I don't think it was a PHEV in the vid, and it did appear as an option on the camping screen that he demo'd.. to good to be true Can anyone with a T7 Cali confirm?? --- ### O — 2025-04-10T06:59:09+0200 (Apr 10, 2025) There is already owner manual for new california out. You can see it online or using california app whe you use any new california VIN. I used VIN WV2 ZZZ STX SH0 125 60 which is for TDI Ocean and there is nothing about air conditioning with engine switched off. Manual is valid for all model types and versions of new cali model and model year. ![1744260618697.png](images/1744260618697-png.134507 "1744260618697.png") --- ### — 2025-04-10T07:37:11+0200 (Apr 10, 2025) It’s the same as in the 6.1 when you switch it on when parked it blows outside air into the van same as the old “ventilation” mode. Works quite well and comes in the rear vents also. --- ### — 2025-04-14T09:36:32+0200 (Apr 14, 2025) That’s what the second sliding door is for…. --- ### — 2025-04-14T10:34:22+0200 (Apr 14, 2025) So two things.. I went to see a the New California in the flesh. If you press the air con button on the camping control it tells you to turn on the engine Secondary I will definitely not buy the the New California, VW have ruined it. Far too small everywhere. Height, width, seats, living space, beds, door openings, cupboards it was so disappointing. The only positive was the lack of handbrake. --- ### — 2025-04-14T14:36:30+0200 (Apr 14, 2025) > [rippers said:](/goto/post?id=743115) > > So two things.. I went to see a the New California in the flesh. If you press the air con button on the camping control it tells you to turn on the engine > > Secondary I will definitely not buy the the New California, VW have ruined it. Far too small everywhere. Height, width, seats, living space, beds, door openings, cupboards it was so disappointing. The only positive was the lack of handbrake. > > Click to expand... So two more things if you switch on ventilation or heating from camping control it doesn’t require the ignition to be switched on. Controlling the air-con from the rear is for rear passengers not for campers hence the requirement for the ignition. One nice feature is the driver has one touch control for ventilation and interior monitoring to be on or off every time you park which is a great step if you pop to the shop with a pet or a child in the back. --- ### O — 2025-04-17T21:18:33+0200 (Apr 17, 2025) I have confirmation from dealer that PHEV version has air conditioning that can cool and also heat, it is operated from high voltage battery, so in camp you can plug in and use air conditioning, it is however different plug than that one for leisure battery, so there are two independent electric systems in car. This air conditioning can be also operated using we connect app. Beside of that there is also a possibility of petrol heater (7VC), that can be operated only from inside of van. So for me this is game changer and i decided to buy PHEV instead of TDI version. --- ### — 2025-04-17T21:37:03+0200 (Apr 17, 2025) > [omelius said:](/goto/post?id=743568) > > I have confirmation from dealer that PHEV version has air conditioning that can cool and also heat, it is operated from high voltage battery, so in camp you can plug in and use air conditioning, it is however different plug than that one for leisure battery, so there are two independent electric systems in car. This air conditioning can be also operated using we connect app. Beside of that there is also a possibility of petrol heater (7VC), that can be operated only from inside of van. So for me this is game changer and i decided to buy PHEV instead of TDI version. > > Click to expand... As on the Hybrid Multivan. You can set the AirCon to run from the EV battery in the Infotainment System. Thereafter when parked it will run for 30 mins at a time so has to be switched On every 30 mins until the computer says " That's enough ". It will not allow you to drop the EV battery below a certain level. --- ### O — 2025-04-17T22:36:48+0200 (Apr 17, 2025) Do you have any statistics how many times you can switch it on with full battery? Can it be switched on indefinitely when your van is plugged in? --- ### — 2025-04-17T23:06:47+0200 (Apr 17, 2025) > [omelius said:](/goto/post?id=743577) > > Do you have any statistics how many times you can switch it on with full battery? Can it be switched on indefinitely when your van is plugged in? > > Click to expand... I believe you can use it indefinitely, depending on battery charge status, but you are still restricted to 30 mins each time. They might have changed the programming on the California version but on the Multivan it is 30 mins x X times until computer says No as EV battery is at limit. I've run it 8 times, so 4 hrs on the drive --- ### V — 2025-04-18T16:13:51+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) > [omelius said:](/goto/post?id=743577) > > Do you have any statistics how many times you can switch it on with full battery? Can it be switched on indefinitely when your van is plugged in? > > Click to expand... A lot will depend on what the external temperature is and what temperature you are trying to target internally. The Electric Air Compressors are rated at about 2-3KW and with Fans and control modules you can probably add another 500w. The PHEV battery is about 20KWh. So it should give a reasonable amount of usage, but will be dramatically less in high temps. Some of the later posts talk about having the van plugged in to use the AC indefinitely. I can’t be certain, but I would be surprised if the PHEV uses the EV chargjng port as the campsite hookup for numerous reasons, both electrically and the fact that most campsites will want an extra payment if they think a hookup being being used EV charging. A --- ### O — 2025-04-18T16:50:58+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) I don't think anyone at the camp will care whether you plug into the campsite hookup or the EV hookup. You pay for electricity and have a limited amperage, so you can split the cable into two and connect both. --- ### V — 2025-04-18T17:01:14+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) > [omelius said:](/goto/post?id=743639) > > I don't think anyone at the camp will care whether you plug into the campsite hookup or the EV hookup. You pay for electricity and have a limited amperage, so you can split the cable into two and connect both. > > Click to expand... All the main UK camping clubs charge a surcharge for EV charging and some sites forbid it. I know some sites in Europe are metered but is rare in the UK for sites to have meters and they have 13-16A supplies. If I owned a site, I would definitely be charging extra for EV cars. Medium sized EV on a good domestic rate (not a night rate because a campsite doesn’t work that way) probably costs about £15 to charge. --- ### O — 2025-04-18T17:14:08+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) It doesn't make sense to pay extra for EV charging when you've already paid for the campsite hookup. Electricity is electricity—whether it's powering a caravan’s air conditioning or charging a PHEV with a 20 kWh battery. Campsites provide a fixed amperage supply, and as long as you're within that limit, you should be able to use it however you need. Plus, with some modifications you can set up the charger after the campsite plug, keeping it hidden inside the van, making it function just like any other appliance. If campsites are worried about excessive usage, a metered system for all users would be a fairer approach than singling out EV owners for extra charges. --- ### V — 2025-04-18T17:35:48+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) > [omelius said:](/goto/post?id=743644) > > It doesn't make sense to pay extra for EV charging when you've already paid for the campsite hookup. Electricity is electricity—whether it's powering a caravan’s air conditioning or charging a PHEV with a 20 kWh battery. Campsites provide a fixed amperage supply, and as long as you're within that limit, you should be able to use it however you need. Plus, with some modifications you can set up the charger after the campsite plug, keeping it hidden inside the van, making it function just like any other appliance. If campsites are worried about excessive usage, a metered system for all users would be a fairer approach than singling out EV owners for extra charges. > > Click to expand... I agree metering is the fairest method, but that doesn’t seem to be the way the UK club sites are going even after new equipment has been recently installed. They seem to be pushing for standalone EV chargers. There is no doubt if more people charge their cars onsite via the hookup, then sites will see their overall electricity bill go up as the average caravan / campervan just doesn’t have that level of consumption and they pass the increase on to everyone if they don’t have meters (as per your point). I have owned EVs and PHEVs so I am no way against them! A --- ### S — 2025-04-18T17:49:42+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) > [WelshGas said:](/goto/post?id=743580) > > I believe you can use it indefinitely, depending on battery charge status, but you are still restricted to 30 mins each time. They might have changed the programming on the California version but on the Multivan it is 30 mins x X times until computer says No as EV battery is at limit. > I've run it 8 times, so 4 hrs on the drive > > Click to expand... On your PHEV Multivan are you able to tell it to recharge the HV battery to full using the petrol engine. Or will it only change from at external supply? Obviously this will be at the expense of economy but in a pinch it’s a nice feature to have. Most PHEVs used to do this but it’s being phased out to force people to charge from the mains. I’m thinking it would be handy to top up the HV battery when arriving at a camp location in hot weather in the summer, would allow for a good few bursts of 30 min cooling when needed. --- ### — 2025-04-18T19:26:53+0200 (Apr 18, 2025) > [status.six said:](/goto/post?id=743651) > > On your PHEV Multivan are you able to tell it to recharge the HV battery to full using the petrol engine. Or will it only change from at external supply? Obviously this will be at the expense of economy but in a pinch it’s a nice feature to have. Most PHEVs used to do this but it’s being phased out to force people to charge from the mains. > > I’m thinking it would be handy to top up the HV battery when arriving at a camp location in hot weather in the summer, would allow for a good few bursts of 30 min cooling when needed. > > Click to expand... On my Multivan - No. But you can select, when running in Full Hybrid mode , how much charge you keep as a baseline. So on my recent trip to London I selected 50% and it kept the EV battery at 50% so I arrived in London after 175 mile drive with the EV battery at 50% charge. --- ### S — 2025-04-19T15:31:52+0200 (Apr 19, 2025) > [WelshGas said:](/goto/post?id=743655) > > On my Multivan - No. > But you can select, when running in Full Hybrid mode , how much charge you keep as a baseline. > So on my recent trip to London I selected 50% and it kept the EV battery at 50% so I arrived in London after 175 mile drive with the EV battery at 50% charge. > > Click to expand... Ah okay, battery hold, that’s something useful at least. On my last X5 PHEV I could change the HV from the engine. On my new one that feature is gone. It’s a shame really but I can understand how it might have been misunderstood or misused. I think the Cali PHEV can be rapid charged (DC) as well as level 2. That’s handy to have for topping the battery up when away from home. Level 2 charging out and about is a waste of time, too slow! Shame VW didn’t include V2L on the California PHEV, that could have been a game changer --- ### V — 2025-04-19T19:01:26+0200 (Apr 19, 2025) > [status.six said:](/goto/post?id=743723) > > Ah okay, battery hold, that’s something useful at least. On my last X5 PHEV I could change the HV from the engine. On my new one that feature is gone. It’s a shame really but I can understand how it might have been misunderstood or misused. > > I think the Cali PHEV can be rapid charged (DC) as well as level 2. That’s handy to have for topping the battery up when away from home. Level 2 charging out and about is a waste of time, too slow! > > Shame VW didn’t include V2L on the California PHEV, that could have been a game changer > > Click to expand... They changed the way PHEV emissions are calculated for 25MY cars and part of it was to encourage PHEV to be actually charged via an external power supply (and not the engine) , so most of not all manufacturers removed the facility to run the engine to charge the battery. The reason for the calculation change was that real world data showed that large proportions of PHEVs rarely got charged yet attracted tax breaks associated with their theoretical emissions. --- ### O — 2025-04-19T19:18:39+0200 (Apr 19, 2025) I've been wondering—if my PHEV battery is fully depleted, does that mean I can't start the engine to run the air conditioning? For example, in the newer models where the engine can’t charge the battery directly, would I need to rely solely on external charging to get any battery functionality back? Also, does anyone know if there’s a way to code or modify the van to allow charging the PHEV battery from the engine, like in older vehicles? I'm not looking to bypass regulations, just thinking about scenarios where charging via an external power source isn’t immediately available, like during long trips or in remote areas. --- ### V — 2025-04-19T19:33:17+0200 (Apr 19, 2025) > [omelius said:](/goto/post?id=743750) > > I've been wondering—if my PHEV battery is fully depleted, does that mean I can't start the engine to run the air conditioning? For example, in the newer models where the engine can’t charge the battery directly, would I need to rely solely on external charging to get any battery functionality back? > > Also, does anyone know if there’s a way to code or modify the van to allow charging the PHEV battery from the engine, like in older vehicles? I'm not looking to bypass regulations, just thinking about scenarios where charging via an external power source isn’t immediately available, like during long trips or in remote areas. > > Click to expand... The car will still generate HV for the HV systems such as the Air Con etc. The car will also push energy back into the battery during regen braking, I think the key difference is not pushing energy into the battery and not using it when it is available. I would be surprised if it can be recoded easily, but there are some creative people. --- ### O — 2025-04-19T19:40:18+0200 (Apr 19, 2025) Since the car can already charge the leisure battery via the engine, I wonder if someone skilled could adapt that system with additional wiring and a maybe some charging circuit to send energy to the PHEV battery. It might be a tricky modification, but there are definitely creative minds out there who could explore the possibility ---