I don't know how much power it draws, but it is a LOT. Seriously, anyone who's ever driven a small 4cyl car (especially one that is underpowered to begin with, ie a cavalier) knows that Turning on the A/C makes it dangerously slow. I have to turn it off to merge onto the highway or it just takes way too long to get anywhere. I actually am thinking maybe it isn't the horsepower it takes, rather it's the resistance to change speed.