Patent ID: 6988371

Claim:
A method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation, the hybrid vehicle having an HVAC system including an HVAC duct, a blower adapted to direct a flow of air through the HVAC duct, and an evaporator located within the HVAC duct, the method comprising the steps of: a) operating said blower; b) operating said compressor, whereby refrigerant flows through said evaporator and absorbs heat from air flowing in said air duct; c) allowing a predetermined amount of ice to form on said evaporator during operation of said compressor; d) turning off the vehicle engine; e) performing one of ceasing or significantly reducing the capacity of the compressor; f) measuring an indicator corresponding to a remaining amount of the predetermined amount of ice formed on the evaporator; and g) performing one of re-starting or significantly increasing the capacity of the compressor when a predetermined air temperature in air duct is reached.