Air con service for hybrid and electric cars

Air con for your electric car or hybrid in Rotterdam

The air con in an electric car or hybrid usually has a high-voltage compressor and often cools the battery too. Our mechanics are trained for this and use the oil the manufacturer specifies.

Rotterdam family business since 1979 | 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews | GMTO and F-gas certified | Price in advance

The short answer

Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde services and repairs the air con in electric cars, plug-in hybrids and hybrids. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) for hybrid and electric cars. We are also F-gas certified for R134a and R1234yf.

The air con in these cars differs in three ways from that in a car with only a combustion engine. The compressor usually runs on high voltage. It then needs oil that insulates electrically. And in many models the air con also cools the battery.

You hear the price in advance and we only start once you agree. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. Then we know which refrigerant and which oil your car uses.

Jump to: what is different · warning signs · how we work · costs · frequently asked questions · directions

What is different about the air con in an electric car or hybrid?

From the outside the system looks like the one in any other car. It uses the same refrigerant and mostly the same parts. The differences are in the compressor, the oil and the job the air con does.

Feature Car with only a combustion engine Electric car or hybrid
Compressor drive Through the engine’s auxiliary belt Its own high-voltage electric motor
Oil in the compressor Usually PAG oil Electrically insulating oil: POE oil or a special PAG oil
What the air con cools The cabin The cabin and, in many models, the battery as well
Heating With heat from the engine Electric or with a heat pump. Hybrids also use heat from the engine
Works when stationary Only when the engine is running In most models, also when the engine is off

Why does the oil matter so much? In an electric compressor the windings of the electric motor sit in the refrigerant and the oil. Standard PAG oil does not insulate well enough. If it gets into an electric compressor, it can damage the insulation of the windings. That can cause a fault in the high-voltage system and damage the compressor. We use the oil the manufacturer specifies and work with thoroughly flushed equipment. That reduces the chance of a different oil getting into the system.

Does this apply to your car?

Type of car Compressor Air con also cools the battery
Electric car (EV) Electric, high voltage In most models
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Electric, high voltage In many models
Hybrid without a plug Usually electric In a few models
Mild hybrid Often still driven by the auxiliary belt Usually not

This is a general picture. It differs by make and model. With your registration number we look up what applies to your car. You can read more background in our article on what is different about the air con in hybrid and electric cars (in Dutch).

Have the air con checked if you notice these signs

In an electric car or plug-in hybrid you do not only notice an air con problem in the cooling. These are the signs we see most often.

  • The air con cools less well or not at all
  • The heating is less warm in winter (in a car with a heat pump)
  • The range in winter is clearly lower than you are used to
  • The car charges more slowly at a rapid charger or shows a warning about the battery temperature
  • You see a warning or fault for the air con or the climate system
  • The windows mist up faster than you are used to

These signs can also have another cause. That is why we first read the fault codes and measure the pressures. In many electric cars and plug-in hybrids the air con system also cools the battery. If the air con does not work properly, the car may limit fast charging or power to protect the battery.

Do you recognise one of these signs? Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number.

How we work on the air con in your electric car or hybrid

On these cars we follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They differ by make and model. We do it in five steps.

We work by appointment. If your car stays with us for longer, you bring it in Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or on Saturday at 9.00 am. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

1. Call with your registration number

With your registration number we look up which refrigerant and which oil your car uses and whether it has a heat pump. You hear in advance what we can do for your model and what an air con service costs for your car.

2. Read the fault codes and measure the pressures

We read the fault codes of the climate system with our diagnostic equipment and measure the pressures. That tells us whether refrigerant is missing or whether a part or sensor is the cause.

3. Working safely on high voltage

Do we need to work on a high-voltage part, such as the compressor? Then we first make the car voltage-free according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate for working on hybrid and electric cars.

4. Leak test, vacuuming and refilling

If we suspect a leak, we first look for it with a nitrogen test. In a car with a heat pump we first put the system into service mode with the diagnostic equipment. Then all the valves are open. After that we vacuum the system and fill it with the amount of refrigerant the manufacturer specifies. We use the oil the manufacturer specifies and work with thoroughly flushed equipment. That reduces the chance of a different oil getting into the system.

5. Testing and explanation

We test the cooling and the pressures and check that the system is sealed. If your car has a heat pump, we also test the heating. We check whether the system still shows any fault codes. You hear what we did and what we measured.

What we do and what it costs

For electric cars and hybrids we do the same air con work as for other cars. The method and the oil are different.

Service What we do Read more
Air con service (regas) Recovering the refrigerant, vacuuming, leak check and refilling to the manufacturer’s specification. Air con regas
Leak detection Pressurised nitrogen test, with UV dye if needed. Finding an air con leak
Electric compressor replacement After a diagnosis, with a new drier and the specified oil. Air con compressor replacement
Condenser or evaporator replacement After a leak test, with a quote in advance. Condenser and evaporator
Air con cleaning For a musty smell, with a new cabin filter. Air con cleaning

What does it cost? For an electric car or hybrid you hear the price in advance when you call with your registration number. The price depends on these points:

  • The refrigerant. Most electric cars use R1234yf, like most new petrol cars. An air con service with R1234yf costs more than with R134a. Older hybrids often still use R134a. Read more about R134a or R1234yf (in Dutch).
  • The oil. The oil for an electric compressor costs more than standard PAG oil.
  • The size of the system. A car with battery cooling or a heat pump often needs more refrigerant.
  • The heat pump. It has to be in service mode before a regas. Whether we can do that for your model, you hear in advance when you call with your registration number.
  • The extra time. This is for reading the system data and, for work on the compressor, making the car voltage-free.

For a repair you get a quote with the parts, the labour, the refrigerant and the VAT. We only start once you agree. You will find an idea of the prices per part in our article on what an air con repair costs (in Dutch). You get a warranty on our repairs. We tell you which warranty applies when we give you the quote.

Refrigerant R744 (CO2). A few models have an air con that uses CO2 as refrigerant. Our certification and equipment are for R134a and R1234yf. Does your car use R744? Then call first with your registration number. We will tell you what we can do for your model.

Frequently asked questions about the air con in electric cars and hybrids

No need to click. All the answers are already open below.

What does it take to work on the air con of an electric car?

It takes training and suitable equipment. The compressor in an electric car or plug-in hybrid runs on high voltage, often around 400 volts and in some models 800 volts. Before work on those parts, the car has to be made voltage-free. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate for working on hybrid and electric cars. The right oil is also needed. We use the oil the manufacturer specifies and work with thoroughly flushed equipment. That reduces the chance of a different oil getting into the system.

What is a GMTO certificate?

GMTO is a certification for mechanics who work on hybrid and electric cars. A mechanic with this certificate is trained to make the car voltage-free according to the rules and to work safely on the high-voltage system. You can check our registration in the public GMTO register.

An important standard for this work is NEN 9140. That is the Dutch standard for working safely on electric vehicles. Read more about our service and repair for hybrid and electric cars.

How much does an air con service cost for an electric car or hybrid?

You hear the price in advance when you call with your registration number. The price depends on the refrigerant, the oil, the size of the system and the extra time for reading the system data. That makes the air con service usually a little more expensive than for a petrol car. The oil for an electric compressor costs more than standard oil. A car with battery cooling or a heat pump often needs more refrigerant. Call +31 10 479 00 00.

In which cars does the air con also cool the battery?

In many electric cars and plug-in hybrids the air con system also cools the battery. If the air con does not work properly, the car may limit fast charging or power to protect the battery. In hybrids without a plug it differs by model. Is the air con in your electric car cooling less well? Then do not wait too long to have it checked.

The air con in my electric car has stopped cooling. Could the heat pump be the cause?

Yes. That is possible. A car with a heat pump uses the same refrigerant to cool in summer and to heat in winter. If the system leaks, both work less well. You often notice it in winter, when the heating is less warm and the range is lower. We read the fault codes, measure the pressures and look for the leak before we regas. Also read what to do when the heater blows cold.

Can you regas the air con in a car with a heat pump?

Yes. In many models we can. A heat pump has extra valves that close off parts of the system. To recover and refill the whole system, it first has to be in service mode. That is done with diagnostic equipment. It differs by make and model. Whether we can do it for your model, you hear in advance when you call with your registration number.

Can I keep driving and charging if the air con does not work?

Yes. You can usually keep driving and charging. The car protects the battery itself. To do that it may limit fast charging or power. You notice it first in warm weather and when fast charging. Does the car show a warning about the battery or the cooling? Then follow the advice in the owner’s manual and have the car checked soon.

How long does an air con service for an electric car take?

Allow one to one and a half hours. A car with a heat pump or a large system takes longer. You can usually wait. If we are looking for a leak or replacing a part, you leave the car with us. You bring it in Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or on Saturday at 9.00 am. You hear in advance how long we need. You can also book an appointment on Saturday.

Air con service for electric cars and hybrids in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is five minutes’ drive away. There is free parking outside if there is space. The tram stop Stadion Feijenoord (line 3) is close by.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. Leaving your car with us? You can use a free loan bike while one is available.

Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or see our contact page.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.00 to 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 to 15.00
Sunday: closed
We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Want the air con in your electric car or hybrid checked?

Call us with your registration number. You hear what we can do for your car and what an air con service costs. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate for working on hybrid and electric cars.

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say (in Dutch).

Also see our air con service, air con regas and air con repair.

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