Air conditioning systems for vehicles comprising such air conditioning systems, and methods for driving hybrid compressors of such air conditioning systems

An air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising a first drive source, wherein the air conditioning system comprises:

• at least one compressor comprising a second drive source, wherein the at least one compressor is driven by the first drive source or the second drive source, or a combination thereof, and the second drive source comprises an electrical power supply;
• and
• means for selecting between the first drive source and the second drive source, such that when the at least one compressor is active, at least the first drive source drives the at least one compressor except when:
• the vehicle is operating in at least one predetermined mode;
• an amount of electrical power delivered by the electrical power supply to the second drive source is greater than or equal to a minimum electrical power, and
• an amount of electric power consumed by the second drive source is less than a maximum electric power.

A vehicle comprising:

• a first drive source;
• and
• an air conditioning system comprising:
• at least one compressor comprising a second drive source, wherein the at least one compressor is driven by the first drive source or the second drive source, or a combination thereof, and the second drive source comprises an electrical power supply;
• and
• means for selecting between the first drive source and the second drive source, such that when the at least one compressor is active, at least the first drive source drives the at least one compressor except when:
• the vehicle is operating in an idle-stop mode;
• a voltage of the electrical power supply is greater than or equal to a minimum electrical power supply voltage;
• and
• an amount of electric power consumed by the second drive source is less than a maximum electric power.

A vehicle comprising:

• a first drive source;
• and
• an air conditioning system comprising:
• at least one compressor comprising a second drive source, wherein the at least one compressor is driven by the first drive source or the second drive source, or a combination thereof, and the second drive source comprises an electrical power supply;
• and
• means for selecting between the first drive source and the second drive source, such that when the at least one compressor is active, at least the first drive source drives the at least one compressor except when:
• the vehicle is operating in at least one predetermined mode;
• an amount of electrical power delivered by the electrical power supply to the second drive source is greater than or equal to a minimum electrical power;
• and
• an amount of electric power consumed by the second drive source is less than a maximum electric power.

A vehicle comprising:

• a first drive source;
• and
• an air conditioning system comprising:
• at least one compressor comprising a second drive source, wherein the at least one compressor is driven by the first drive source or the second drive source, or a combination thereof, and the second drive source comprises an electrical power supply;
• and
• means for selecting between the first drive source and the second drive source, wherein the means for selecting is adapted to select at least the first drive source at least when the at least one compressor is active and an amount of electric power consumed by the second drive source is greater than or equal to a maximum electric power.

A method for driving at least one compressor of an air conditioning system of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a first drive source, and the air conditioning system comprises the at least one compressor, wherein the at least one compressor comprises a second drive source, and the second drive source comprises an electrical power supply, wherein the at least one compressor is driven by the first drive source or the second drive source, or a combination thereof, and the method comprises the steps of:

• determining whether the vehicle is operating in at least one predetermined mode;
• activating the second drive source when the vehicle is operating in the at least one predetermined mode;
• determining whether an amount of electric power consumed by the second drive source is greater than or equal to a maximum electric power;
• switching the drive of the at least one compressor from the second drive source to the first drive source when the amount of electric power consumed by the second drive source is greater than or equal to the maximum electric power.