Calculations to help your Hybrid vs. EcoBoost Maverick decision

[NewGuy]

For those of us who plan to drive our hybrids 100,000+ miles, it is a no-brainer, especially since we bought 23 models with no markup for hybrids. Reading the OP's formula figures, another reason I am glad to be in TX, especially since I filled up last week at Sam's Club for $2.87 per gallon.

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[Hillbilly]

But with hybrid you will probably never have to change the brakes, no turbo to worry about, etc.

Also the truck will drive fine even if the battery won't hold charge anymore. The price difference would've been paid back long before that.

You don't use the brakes to stop?
Wow

 

[huunvubu]

This thread only considers gas cost and ignores the other benefits of owning a Hybrid.

Hybrid has No Turbo like the EcoBoost has. Turbo engines are known to be problematic.

Regenerative brakes means the brake pads will not wear out for a long time if ever.

There is no accessory belt or pulleys which wear out

No Alternator
No Starter

AC is electric powered by the HV Battery so it can run in stop & go traffic or when stopped
This is very welcome in hot climates like Texas

 

[BradnChristine]

This thread only considers gas cost and ignores the other benefits of owning a Hybrid.

Hybrid has No Turbo like the EcoBoost has. Turbo engines are known to be problematic.

Regenerative brakes means the brake pads will not wear out for a long time if ever.

There is no accessory belt or pulleys which wear out

No Alternator

AC is electric powered by the HV Battery so it can run in stop & go traffic or when stopped
This is very welcome in hot climates like Texas

Does the EB have the same electric A/C? (I don't know.) Can the EB sit and idle in 120 degree weather without getting hot? I love that the Hybrid just quietly runs the A/C on electric and if it needs a charge, it runs the ICE for a short time, then goes back off while all the time keeping you cool. That was a really big deal in Z's heat.

 

[Paullamphear]

Just did a ‘24 build price, and same hybrid Lariat is about $4k more than my ‘23. Is that in the formula? No, but….
For me, hybrid choice was not a matter of total $ cost, but also cost to our future environment (although, as a financial nerd, I did the formula, along with risks of more to go wrong, battery cost, etc.)
Also need to mention CR reports puts Maverick Hybrid as #1 rated truck, and Maverick as #2.
I might tow more than 2k pounds (occasionally) knowing frame structure OK at 4k, and slightly less torque with CVT. But not long hauls.

 

[imboden013]

I thought it would be fun to build a calculator to determine how many miles you need to drive to justify the $1500 hybrid premium.

Number of Miles = (($1500/ Avg_$/Gallon) * Hybrid_MPG) / ((Hybrid_MPG / Ecoboost_MPG) - 1)

If I use the Car & Driver Average MPG figures:
Hybrid: 42 City & 33 Highway = 37.5 MPG
Ecoboost: 22 City & 29 Highway = 25.5 MPG

I use local gas prices average (Irvine, California, US): $4.58

Number of Miles = (($1500/$4.58)*37.5)/((37.5/25.5)-1) = 26,100 miles.

I don't know if you find this useful or not... Yet, it was fun creating the formula.

Great work, I checked your formula and it comes out within 100 miles of my figures. I drive my AWD mav mostly on highway, I’m averaging 33.7mpg and gas has hovered just under $3 for the last year. So those figures comes out to 166,700 miles give or take a tad.

 

[huunvubu]

Does the EB have the same electric A/C? (I don't know.)

No the EB has no High Voltage Battery so it has a belt driven AC

Can the EB sit and idle in 120 degree weather without getting hot?

Only if you disable Start-Stop because the gas engine has to run for the AC to work.

I love that the Hybrid just quietly runs the A/C on electric and if it needs a charge, it runs the ICE for a short time, then goes back off while all the time keeping you cool. That was a really big deal in Z's heat.

I Agree

 

[BradnChristine]

No the EB has no High Voltage Battery so it has a belt driven AC



Only if you disable Start-Stop because the gas engine has to run for the AC to work.



I Agree

Thanks. I did not know whether the EB had a belt-driven compressor or was driven by the non-HV battery. Just another positive point. For me, my hybrid choice is because 1. Flat-towable; 2: high MPG; and 3. Great A/C. I dearly love being able to keep the truck "running" with A/C while waiting for my wife to finish shopping. I spent too many years in AZ where I could not do that.

 

[Sykotyk]

Thanks. I did not know whether the EB had a belt-driven compressor or was driven by the non-HV battery. Just another positive point. For me, my hybrid choice is because 1. Flat-towable; 2: high MPG; and 3. Great A/C. I dearly love being able to keep the truck "running" with A/C while waiting for my wife to finish shopping. I spent too many years in AZ where I could not do that.

The AC in my Lariat Hybrid is phenomenal.

After a short time the truck will chime that it's shutting off in 30 seconds, but you just need to hit the button on your steering wheel to cancel it. From my experience, it's about 5-10 minutes on and about 1-2 minutes running depending on outside temp and set temp. It's a great feature. Plus, times where you're in line such a drive-thru, slow light with multiple phases to wait through, etc. No engine running, or incredibly limited.

 

[BradnChristine]

The AC in my Lariat Hybrid is phenomenal.

After a short time the truck will chime that it's shutting off in 30 seconds, but you just need to hit the button on your steering wheel to cancel it. From my experience, it's about 5-10 minutes on and about 1-2 minutes running depending on outside temp and set temp. It's a great feature. Plus, times where you're in line such a drive-thru, slow light with multiple phases to wait through, etc. No engine running, or incredibly limited.

I got spoiled with my first C-Max Hybrid back in 2016. When I first test-drove one, the salesman and I were sitting in the car talking, with it "on" and it surprised me when the engine started up....by then I was sold on the technology, buying a used 2013 and then a new 2017 and now am loving my Maverick.
The two "faults" of the C-Max are fixed: The Maverick has a real spare tire...and a pickup bed!

 

[MagnusBjorn]

I'm currently driving a 21 F150 Powerboost 3.5 hybrid and it's the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have 30K and I have a lifetime average of 23.6 MPG including towing a travel trailer. I love everything about the hybrid, the power, the efficiency, and I love the onboard 7K generator. I sold the travel trailer and now have a motorhome and wanted a small flat towable. I could tow my F150 but over 6K I wanted something smaller. I have to buy the hybrid to flat tow but to be honest after owing a current Ford hybrid I would have bought one anyway. The only thing that would have been better for me is a plug PHEV.

 

[NextTruck]

I thought it would be fun to build a calculator to determine how many miles you need to drive to justify the $1500 hybrid premium.

Number of Miles = (($1500/ Avg_$/Gallon) * Hybrid_MPG) / ((Hybrid_MPG / Ecoboost_MPG) - 1)

If I use the Car & Driver Average MPG figures:
Hybrid: 42 City & 33 Highway = 37.5 MPG
Ecoboost: 22 City & 29 Highway = 25.5 MPG

I use local gas prices average (Irvine, California, US): $4.58

Number of Miles = (($1500/$4.58)*37.5)/((37.5/25.5)-1) = 26,100 miles.

I don't know if you find this useful or not... Yet, it was fun creating the formula.

Just don't use the EPA info on the window sticker. The sticker just posted for my build is using $2.95 a gallon for the annual fuel cost calculation. Will someone please advise them to get real? We haven't seen those prices in about 3 years.

 

[jsus]

Thanks. I did not know whether the EB had a belt-driven compressor or was driven by the non-HV battery. Just another positive point. For me, my hybrid choice is because 1. Flat-towable; 2: high MPG; and 3. Great A/C. I dearly love being able to keep the truck "running" with A/C while waiting for my wife to finish shopping. I spent too many years in AZ where I could not do that.

AC draws way too much electricity to run off a 12V battery. Hybrids are able to run off their HVB but EBs use a conventional system. What it can do is to run the ICE and the compressor for a bit, then shut off the compressor and blow the pre-chilled air out before starting the ICE back up.

One thing to keep in mind about engine start/stop (non-hybrid) is that it does not last very long, and many factors will keep it from activating. It doesn't activate every time you stop, it will only stay off as long as the 12V battery stays within the target charge range, and it'll kick back on as soon as it decides it's needed.

If the cooling or heating demand is too high, the engine will never shut off. On a hybrid, it'll cycle the engine on and off just to charge the HVB while the compressor is powered full time. Means you never notice much change in the temp of the air coming out of the vents.

If you try to turn the steering wheel, the engine will fire back up because even though it has a similar EPAS (Electric Power Assisted Steering) system, it relies on the ICE. Didn't quite straighten the wheels before stopping in a turn lane? On a hybrid, EPAS runs off the HVB, thus you can steer to your heart's content with the engine off.

Need to move up a bit while waiting at a red light? Now the engine's gonna fire up and stay on for the next couple minutes. Meaning it'll probably shut off right before the light goes green.

If keeping the engine off to maximize efficiency appeals to you, hybrid is the way to go because babysitting engine start/stop can get annoying.

I got spoiled with my first C-Max Hybrid back in 2016. When I first test-drove one, the salesman and I were sitting in the car talking, with it "on" and it surprised me when the engine started up....

My brother was picking up his new-to-him Escape Hybrid from a dealer. He turned it on and was trying to link it to his FordPass account. Salesman comes over to help and tells him to turn it on. Had to remind him it was a hybrid and was already on, because they are quiet with the engine off.

 

[realshelby]

Bottom line:

The Hybrid version is lower cost the moment you leave the Dealer. They now and in the future will retain a much higher resale value.

Then there is the facts of lower maintenance costs, fuel costs, and not having to buy a tow dolly to tow them behind an RV!

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