Found the ambient high temperature limits of the hybrid's electric motor/battery

[Hingeman]

It was about 114-115F yesterday, display was reading 118 while caught in a little bit of traffic in Phoenix. Nothing unusual. The car started driving unusual. I could tell that regenerative braking was hardly there. The engine would not turn off even coasting or stopped. AC or AC off. Drove the last couple miles home to see if I could get the car in electric mode, but nothing. Everything is working fine this morning.

My guess is once the high voltage battery gets too warm it limits charging and discharging to keep it cooler.

Most of you guys won't have to worry about this. And luckily there are few days over 115 in Phoenix, so hopefully it doesn't become too much of a problem.

Thank you for this information. I live in the west valley and was wondering what the heat might do to the truck and how the AC is able to keep up. I am lucky enough to have covered parking at work. I am hoping this keeps the heat down. I have not gotten my truck. I am one of the lucky people who's truck is getting pushed to a 2023.

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[Shay]

I have had same issues in these weeks where it's over 110 everyday. MPG went from 46 to 35 when the temperature sit over 110 because the gas engine is running almost continuously. Hybrid battery is water cooled, it powers its own cooling system, and it powers the AC for the cab. When it's super hot the computer won't use the battery as much for powering the truck to prevent overheating it. Because of all that the gas engine is running a lot more, and drinking a lot more.

 

[DesertSweat]

So...somehow Ford's Maverick hybrid system is different from the Escape's, Prius's, Camry's, Rav 4's, etc. hybrid systems over the last 15-20 years? I mean, this is a well-known transmission in vehicles all over the world. Why would Ford build something untested for the Maverick?

Phoenix is the hottest major city in the US. What I'm saying is that 115 ambient temps combined with city traffic, with a battery that sits right over the hot pavement which is probably 150F+, which doesn't really occur in you other examples, the battery would only discharge and recharge minimally and it would not use any for propulsion no matter what I did until the car had sufficiently cooled.

The car would not use battery. No matter how much I tried to recharge it by accelerating and decelerating to charge it non-organically. The motor would also not shut off at all. Not during deceleration or sitting stopped. Even after I had turned off the AC and tried repeating.

There is obviously a limit. I've tuned cars and have seen how manufacturers tune engines and what safeguards there are. You'd have to be dumb to think that Ford or other manufacturers would not implement safeguards for temperature to protect the battery.

 

[DesertSweat]

I have had same issues in these weeks where it's over 110 everyday. MPG went from 46 to 35 when the temperature sit over 110 because the gas engine is running almost continuously. Hybrid battery is water cooled, it powers its own cooling system, and it powers the AC for the cab. When it's super hot the computer won't use the battery as much for powering the truck to prevent overheating it. Because of all that the gas engine is running a lot more, and drinking a lot more.

Same here. Though I would get some hybrid assist, or the engine would stop at stoplights, or I could get it into electric only mode.

But that day when it was that hot and hitting a little bit of traffic and then clearing up. No battery assistance at all for the ICE, nor would the engine shut down for the remainder of the my trip home which was extremely odd.

 

[Geep]

I have had same issues in these weeks where it's over 110 everyday. MPG went from 46 to 35 when the temperature sit over 110 because the gas engine is running almost continuously. Hybrid battery is water cooled, it powers its own cooling system, and it powers the AC for the cab. When it's super hot the computer won't use the battery as much for powering the truck to prevent overheating it. Because of all that the gas engine is running a lot more, and drinking a lot more.

Yes but it is one of the most fuel efficient designs of an ICE…..

 

[2022EOW]

So could we say that Ford didn't put a strong enough fan on the rad to cool the system properly? Maybe this liquid cooled external battery that isn't cooled by cabin air like most hybrids wasn't the best choice. Never had an issue in hot weather with older hybrids, but then I've thankfully never been in 115F.

No because those temps are not encountered by everyone all the time.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Betcha it won't like the -14 degrees I'm going to subject it to in the winter. Batteries like to live in moderate climates.

It will run the ice more to heat the battery up to it's preferred operating range. I read university study on lithium ion battery. There are many different compounds so exact conditions are not the same for all batteries. The rate of charge/discharge is variable lower temp is less amps higher temp is more amps. So at -14°F you may only have a fraction of the amps that you would at 75°F. If the battery is at 110°F d

 

[Milton Jeff]

Well it's only going to get worse with what we're doing to the environment.... 10-20-50 years from now, who knows?

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Same here. Though I would get some hybrid assist, or the engine would stop at stoplights, or I could get it into electric only mode.

But that day when it was that hot and hitting a little bit of traffic and then clearing up. No battery assistance at all for the ICE, nor would the engine shut down for the remainder of the my trip home which was extremely odd.

I did 336 miles in 102-106 temp with stiff head wind about 170 miles ac running at 73°F with cruise at 75 mph. Had just over 9 electric miles truck reported 32.2 mg. Was running 91 octane

 

[FordHybrid]

We presently have a 2018 KIA Niro Hybrid and we have averaged 46 mpg over the 4 yrs. But if you haven't had a hybrid or EV vehicle before, the mpg varies with the temperature. Our mpg drops under 40 degrees [33 mpg]. We live in the northwest corner of Washington and we can have 15 degrees in winter or 100 degrees in summer. So don't expect great mpg at the extreme temps. Looking forward to seeing what the Maverick will do once we get it.

 

[DryHeat]

Sure, but only on airplanes that are built for stop-and-go traffic.

The air-cooled Cessna behind me on Congress Avenue today was really heating up.

 

[Timothyd]

It will run the ice more to heat the battery up to it's preferred operating range. I read university study on lithium ion battery. There are many different compounds so exact conditions are not the same for all batteries. The rate of charge/discharge is variable lower temp is less amps higher temp is more amps. So at -14°F you may only have a fraction of the amps that you would at 75°F. If the battery is at 110°F d

I hope I get to find out this winter. Waiting 9 months now.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

I'm surprised that there is no warning on the instrument cluster about the battery charge/discharge being limited due to excessive heat/cold.

 

[NewBernWolf]

Phoenix is the hottest major city in the US. What I'm saying is that 115 ambient temps combined with city traffic, with a battery that sits right over the hot pavement which is probably 150F+, which doesn't really occur in you other examples, the battery would only discharge and recharge minimally and it would not use any for propulsion no matter what I did until the car had sufficiently cooled.

The car would not use battery. No matter how much I tried to recharge it by accelerating and decelerating to charge it non-organically. The motor would also not shut off at all. Not during deceleration or sitting stopped. Even after I had turned off the AC and tried repeating.

There is obviously a limit. I've tuned cars and have seen how manufacturers tune engines and what safeguards there are. You'd have to be dumb to think that Ford or other manufacturers would not implement safeguards for temperature to protect the battery.

Hybrids don't work in Phoenix? I'm sorry, I just keep wondering why they're sold there. Wouldn't your heat - that's somehow worse than New Orleans, Miami, and other hot southern places - prohibit the sale of hybrids and electric vehicles?

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