Hybrid Heater Performance?

[Bodageta]

Due the Hybrid engine, I have concern with its ability to generate enough heat to warm the cabin. I believe to compensate it picks up additional heat from the exhaust. There may be an electric heating element too - not sure. It’s definitely more complicated than a traditional HVAC heating system. Could someone with a hybrid tell me how they like the heater and if it seems as capable as a traditional gas vehicle at warming the cabin? I ask as I don’t have a build date and could add the lux package if I need heated seats to compensate for body temps/feeling. Any hybrid heater experiences? Hopefully this was worked out on the Escape but it could just never be as good or it could be just fine. I would like to know. FYI, after college I worked for a Major auto manufacturer (not Ford) with R&D test and development for HVAC. I know a bit about the subject but not about a hybrid. My time was in the late 90s.

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[WesM]

The engine runs when heating is needed. Its one of the reasons why you will see lower MPG in colder temps. The exhaust heat exchanger is used to warm up the coolant/engine faster. The Hybrid heats a car just like a normal gas engine does, its the cooling that runs an electric compressor.

 

[clavicus]

Do a search for “hybrid heat” keywords you will find some discussion already. Sorry I’m on mobile or I would link one. Hybrid has no electric heating element for the cabin, its all the ICE. There is a heat exchange off the exhaust for battery liquid warming. Feels weird to call the liquid a coolant in this context lol.

edit: previous threads

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...n-is-heater-electric-or-from-the-engine.3988/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/hybrid-in-the-cold-heat-functions.5394/

 

[mktmgrjrm]

I have a Fusion hybrid - expect that the heater works the same as the Maverick. Heat comes via the ICE, but heat will continue without the ICE running for at least a while. I tested that out today, in fact. After driving about 20 miles at highway speeds, I parked at a mall while my wife shopped. Put the car in PARK, but did not turn it off. ICE goes off if the battery is charged up when the vehicle is put in PARK. The heat continued to work for about 10 minutes, then the ICE came on for about 4 minutes and then shut off. Heat worked for another 10 minutes and then the ICE came on again.

 

[STARCOMMTREY1]

Due the Hybrid engine, I have concern with its ability to generate enough heat to warm the cabin. I believe to compensate it picks up additional heat from the exhaust. There may be an electric heating element too - not sure. It’s definitely more complicated than a traditional HVAC heating system. Could someone with a hybrid tell me how they like the heater and if it seems as capable as a traditional gas vehicle at warming the cabin? I ask as I don’t have a build date and could add the lux package if I need heated seats to compensate for body temps/feeling. Any hybrid heater experiences? Hopefully this was worked out on the Escape but it could just never be as good or it could be just fine. I would like to know. FYI, after college I worked for a Major auto manufacturer (not Ford) with R&D test and development for HVAC. I know a bit about the subject but not about a hybrid. My time was in the late 90s.

Today was less than 30 degrees. I had ZERO issues heating my truck. Last night I went out and set my truck to max defrost(I used the last used selection on the options for remote start) so it would fire off in that setting this morning. I used my phone to start the truck....a few minutes later I looked and the window was nearly completely defrosted. You will not be upset with the heater elements.(The engine also fired off immediately)

 

[JohnHartshorn]

I have a hybrid Sienna (Big cavernous van). It heats just fine. On the A/C side, it defaults to an ECO mode that strains the battery less, but you can turn ECO off if you need more cooling power for those 100F days. (and no, I'm not talking about the drive Eco mode. The A/C has it's own Eco setting).

 

[icegradner]

I have a hybrid Sienna (BIg cavernous van). It heats just fine. On the A/C side, it defaults to an ECO mode that strains the battery less, but you can turn ECO off if you need more cooling power for those 100F days. (and no, I'm not talking about the drive Eco mode. The A/C has it's own Eco setting).

These vehicles have a different heater setup. Most Toyota Hybrids have an electric heat strip, in addition to the engine heater. IMO it takes forever to heat up. If I relyed on the built in heater in my Camry Hybrid to defrost the window I'd be waiting 15-20 minutes to drive away. I resorted to using 1500W electric heater plugged into my house to do the job, rather than waste gas.

 

[Wire4money]

These vehicles have a different heater setup. Most Toyota Hybrids have an electric heat strip, in addition to the engine heater. IMO it takes forever to heat up. If I relyed on the built in heater in my Camry Hybrid to defrost the window I'd be waiting 15-20 minutes to drive away. I resorted to using 1500W electric heater plugged into my house to do the job, rather than waste gas.

The Maverick has heat strips as well.

 

[oljackfrost]

The Maverick has heat strips as well.

Only on luxury package

 

[icegradner]

Only on luxury package

The luxury package adds heat strips (same as rear window defrosters) for the windshield wipers, steering wheel and seats. Don't think it adds a cabin electric heat strip.

 

[Poolguy]

It's been one of my only complaints so far. My Maverick takes at least twice as long as my F150 does to heat up so the heater will work. Granted, I leave the heater off until I see the temp start to come up, otherwise the gas engine comes on and gas mileage goes down. I could warm it up faster if I let the gas engine come on all the time by turning on the HVAC from the get go.

 

[clavicus]

It's been one of my only complaints so far. My Maverick takes at least twice as long as my F150 does to heat up so the heater will work. Granted, I leave the heater off until I see the temp start to come up, otherwise the gas engine comes on and gas mileage goes down. I could warm it up faster if I let the gas engine come on all the time by turning on the HVAC from the get go.

Your complaint is that your heating function doesn't work fast if you don't turn the heating function on?

 

[icegradner]

Your complaint is that your heating function doesn't work fast if you don't turn the heating function on?

Hybrids tend to take a long time to warm up, no point in having it on if all it does it blow cold air.

 

[Darnon]

Hybrids tend to take a long time to warm up, no point in having it on if all it does it blow cold air.

Yes, but not presenting heater demand exacerbates heating up slowly because it won't run in a profile to heat up faster.

 

[73bluebronco]

If you are on a schedule you can set the remote start to fire up at a specific time and then you don't have to worry about it

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