What’s your EV coach “blue bar” length?

[Aza]

Trying eco mode in city and Normal on highway, these are my results. So far it's a little better compared with only eco mode. Each of these are mostly highway. I think going there it is up hill and going back is downhill which is part why a large range in numbers. Im thinking I'll next try all surface streets for this drive and see how that compares to almost all highway.

Nice! Thanks for reporting back. So it looks as though you had the same results as I did. Definitely experiment with different modes to find the best one for your driving style and streets.

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[Ford Maverick Maniac]

At 75 mpg, were you on flat terrain or going downhill? I was able to drive in electric at 65 mph going downhill but not on flat interstate. Nevertheless, it’s a good strategy to drive in electric as much as possible in a safe manner going downhill on an interstate hi way.

Gary, I reached 75 mph in electric mode on a very slight downhill. I never owned a hybrid before and I thought the electric motor only worked at slow speeds.

Here is my video on a steeper incline showing the charging on the power meter pegged or maxed out.

 

[CuriousGary]

Gary, I reached 75 mph in electric mode on a very slight downhill. I never owned a hybrid before and I thought the electric motor only worked at slow speeds.

Here is my video on a steeper incline showing the charging on the power meter pegged or maxed out.

Great video. Couple questions/comments:
1. After the short trip down hill, did you record the trip mpg’s or remember what it was?
2. I am definitely going to use Low for down hill driving and specifically in our low but older mountains of No. GA and of NC.
3. Is Low gear useful for going up hills or up steep roads?

 

[GPSMan]

Low in the Hybrid is strictly for downhill / slowing. It does nothing different going uphill.

 

[CuriousGary]

Low in the Hybrid is strictly for downhill / slowing. It does nothing different going uphill.

Thanks. I suppose this means I have not been using Low on my Ford CMax Hybrid properly. I have always put the car in Low to climb my very steep driveway.

 

[Darnon]

Thanks. I suppose this means I have not been using Low on my Ford CMax Hybrid properly. I have always put the car in Low to climb my very steep driveway.

I don't know if it changed on later model years, but on my '14 Fusion Hybrid Low functioned very differently than it does on the Maverick.

 

[GPSMan]

Thanks. I suppose this means I have not been using Low on my Ford CMax Hybrid properly. I have always put the car in Low to climb my very steep driveway.

It will do no harm.
These hybrids with eCVT are very "different". There's only one set of gears full time. You have all the "power" full time.

The programming can change to make it feel a little different in the different modes. L tells the system to automatically regen brake more strongly when coasting, but the actual amount (power wise) is the same as you pressing the brake pedal. L also tells it to "engine brake" a little sooner. But it will also engine brake in D(rive).

 

[CuriousGary]

I don't know if it changed on later model years, but on my '14 Fusion Hybrid Low functioned very differently than it does on the Maverick.

How do we know that Low is not helpful going uphill? I think I saw a Ford video that said/implied otherwise. I’ll have to go back and see what Ford said.

That said, I am going to use Low to drive down hill.

Finally, I read that one writer says that Tow/Haul driving mode is a better approach to driving down hill than using Low gear. What are your thoughts?

 

[Darnon]

How do we know that Low is not helpful going uphill? I think I saw a Ford video that said/implied otherwise. I’ll have to go back and see what Ford said.

On the older hybrids Low mode actually forced the CVT to run a lower ratio. Engaging it you'd hear the ICE RPM jump up. On the Maverick it mostly just biases the throttle/brake bias down. So less throttle rate (similar to Eco) and much more off-throttle regen.

 

[CuriousGary]

It will do no harm.
These hybrids with eCVT are very "different". There's only one set of gears full time. You have all the "power" full time.

The programming can change to make it feel a little different in the different modes. L tells the system to automatically regen brake more strongly when coasting, but the actual amount (power wise) is the same as you pressing the brake pedal. L also tells it to "engine brake" a little sooner. But it will also engine brake in D(rive).

I have experimented with Low several times this morning driving down hills.
Punching low starting down a hill does not cause the engine to rev more which surprised me, but you can feel the truck being held back right away by the transmission. Certainly not as much braking is required to stop the truck at the bottom of the hill. The hybrid battery charges going down hill. Experimenting to continue.

 

[GPSMan]

I have experimented with Low several times this morning driving down hills.
Punching low starting down a hill does not cause the engine to rev more which surprised me, but you can feel the truck being held back right away by the transmission. Certainly not as much braking is required to stop the truck at the bottom of the hill. The hybrid battery charges going down hill. Experimenting to continue.

The engine will not rev up if there is room in the battery for charging. Once you exceed 70% charged, the engine RPM will certainly increase.

Note the engine CAN rev at lower than 70% if conditions warrant. It will for sure rev above 70% because that is a predictable condition that warrants it.

 

[GPSMan]

How do we know that Low is not helpful going uphill? I think I saw a Ford video that said/implied otherwise. I’ll have to go back and see what Ford said.

The short answer: because there are no gears that "shift". L can change the ratio from each power source, but so does pressing the right pedal.

One method may feel better or more convenient than the other.

 

[Ford Maverick Maniac]

I have experimented with Low several times this morning driving down hills.
Punching low starting down a hill does not cause the engine to rev more which surprised me, but you can feel the truck being held back right away by the transmission. Certainly not as much braking is required to stop the truck at the bottom of the hill. The hybrid battery charges going down hill. Experimenting to continue.

Gary, low is really helpful on wet or snow covered downhills where braking can put you into a slide. I show this on my Sea to Ski videos on my channel driving during a snow storm in Park City.

 

[GPSMan]

Gary, low is really helpful on wet or snow covered downhills where braking can put you into a slide. I show this on my Sea to Ski videos on my channel driving during a snow storm in Park City.

No!

This is opposite of what you want.
Low is the strongest regen braking.
Slippery mode is the opposite of low.
Low can more easily put you into a slide and it is not recommended on ice, snow, or in standing water.

PLEASE try slippery mode on slippery roads.

The human foot can mimic any programmed mode, but slippery mode is the most gentle of all modes.

 

[Ford Maverick Maniac]

No!

This is opposite of what you want.
Low is the strongest regen braking.
Slippery mode is the opposite of low.
Low can more easily put you into a slide and it is not recommended on ice, snow, or in standing water.

PLEASE try slippery mode on slippery roads.

The human foot can mimic any programmed mode, but slippery mode is the most gentle of all modes.

John,

In this video I was in Slippery mode. It shows how the Low button holds my speed on a steep downhill, like downshifting a manual transmission. Applying the brakes on a snow covered steep downhill in any driving mode will more likely put you into a slide.

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