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[deleted] t1_j6d8qsk wrote

Reply to comment by hikingsticks in Eli5 why aren't gas only vehicles far more fuel efficient than before by Live_Strongerrr

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Rev_Creflo_Baller t1_j6d9fut wrote

Of course it does. That's what the alternator is for. That plus keeping the battery charged up.

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[deleted] t1_j6d9k5t wrote

[deleted]

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redline83 t1_j6dac3i wrote

Only for a relatively short time until your battery is dead. The 12V system while the engine is running is supplied by the alternator, the battery just buffers it.

As proof, you can jump a car without a battery and the electronics will all work.

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UglySuperhero t1_j6d9wla wrote

When the car is off the power comes from the battery. The batt gets charged by the alternator when the engine is running.

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ArmedWithSponge t1_j6dauj4 wrote

No offense, but you should just google “what powers the radio in my car?” r/Rev_Creflo_Baller is right, it’s the alternator (when the cars on) and battery (when the cars off). Guess what powers the battery and alternator?

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trootaste t1_j6dbd54 wrote

Lol I'm not arguing, I understand that. It's not plugged into mains so it has to be the engine, I'm just asking how.

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LittleKittyLove t1_j6da9l0 wrote

Because you have a small charged battery which is used to start the car.

Run the radio for a while without starting the car, and your battery dies, and needs to be jump started.

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SilverHawk7 t1_j6davvg wrote

Because your car has a battery. The battery can provide power to the lights, accessories, but most importantly the starter, which is used to crank and start the engine. If you leave those accessories on while the engine is off, it will drain the battery (we're talking leaving these things on for hours without running the engine). Drain the battery enough and it won't have enough power to start the engine.

Your car also has an alternator, which is basically just a small generator turned by the engine. The alternator turns some of the engine's power into electricity to power various parts of the engine as well as the lights and accessories, while also recharging the battery.

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vector2point0 t1_j6e1r1r wrote

The car has a battery that will run the accessories and be charged by the alternator when the engine is running.

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UglySuperhero t1_j6d9lye wrote

Yep. The engine powers the alternator which generates electricity needed for the rest of the car.

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someone76543 t1_j6dav2s wrote

The ICE does power all the electronics.

All car engines have a generator ("alternator") attached, which generates the electricity that the car needs. Taking power from that generator puts a drag on the engine's shaft, requiring more fuel to be burnt to keep the car going at the same speed. There is no such thing as free energy, it has to come from somewhere.

There is also a rechargeable battery in the car, used when the engine is off. That battery is recharged from the generator when the engine is running. So any power taken from that battery, requires more power from the ICE to recharge the battery. Again, no free energy.

Air conditioning usually connects the AC compressor directly to the engine shaft (via belts). Again, when it is running that puts a drag on the engine's shaft, requiring more fuel to be burnt to keep the car going at the same speed. (The AC needs a lot of power, so this design avoids the inefficiencies of having the generator drive a big electric motor to drive the compressor. It also avoids the weight and space for a big electric motor).

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icelandichorsey t1_j6db5h2 wrote

What else is powering them?

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trootaste t1_j6dbqne wrote

Haha I realise it's a silly question, I was more asking how it powers them, not if it does or not. I know it's not plugged into mains

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