Air conditioning system with reduced energy consumption during defrosting for an electric vehicle

An air conditioning system for use in a battery powered traction motor driven electric vehicle, comprising:

• a battery for supplying power in said electric vehicle;
• an air conditioning mechanism, powered by said battery, for air conditioning a passenger room of said electric vehicle;
• at least one sensor means for outputting a signal indicating whether a window of said electric vehicle is in a clear or an unclear state;
• glass heating means, powered by said battery, for heating said window;
• and
• controlling means for receiving the signal from said at least one sensor, said controlling means being provided for energizing said glass heating means by supplying power to said glass heating means from said battery, said control means further outputting a signal for controlling the power consumed from said battery by said air conditioning mechanism when it is determined, based on said signal outputted form said at least one sensor, that said window is in an unclear state, wherein said controlling means reduces the power consumed form said battery by said air conditioning mechanism during a period in which said glass heating means is simultaneously energized.