Storage evaporator having phase change material for use in vehicle air conditioning system

A storage evaporator for an air conditioning system in a vehicle is includes phase change material-containing tubes arranged side-by-side in contact with refrigerant-containing tubes. The storage evaporator includes an upper coolant tank, a lower coolant tank, refrigerant-containing tubes fluidly the connecting tanks, and phase change material-containing tubes provided in contact with the refrigerant tubes. The refrigerant tubes have flat sides and the phase change material-containing tubes have flat sides. The flat sides of the refrigerant tubes are attached to the flat sides of the phase change material-containing tubes. The phase change material may be any of several materials and may an eutectic, a salt hydrate, and an organic material. In operation, cold energy is stored in the phase change material when the air conditioning compressor is in its “on” position. This cold energy is released from the phase change material when the compressor is in its “off” position.