Hybrid Maverick towing observations [*Hybrid talk only*]

[GPSMan]

What ScanGauge are you using that shows 27 different sensors at once? Is this an App?

It allows 27 presets, 9 per screen x 3 screens. You just swipe across to toggle between the 3 screens like a smart phone.

Shown here is a short duration "peak" burst of power going up a heavy grade for about 1 minute / 1 mile.

Today I went down an 11% grade into a river valley and went up a 9% grade on the other side. Piece of cake because the slopes were only about a mile each.

Below, power output about 80% for a really short period, 20-30 seconds. What I want to point out is: in Tow / Haul mode the battery does almost no work. It sat at 50% charged +/- 5% all day long. No matter how steep the grade.

The main reason the GENERATOR gets hot while towing is: It is generating power all day long and sending the high wattage to the traction motor all day long. It never gets a rest. It is like a diesel train locomotive in Tow/Haul mode. It is smaller than the traction motor and is working harder in proportion to the traction motor so it gets much warmer than the traction motor. The traction motor IS assisting the gas engine while towing, but it is getting 95-99% of it's juice from the generator, NOT the battery. The battery had an easy day while I'm in tow/haul mode.

Pictured:

Gen Torque: -51 lb/ft. Negative because it is being driven, not driving something.

Gen Speed: 11,461 RPM. Ya Really!

Gen Coil Temp: 217°F. The Escape allowed 265°F before a warning and 285°F before a shut down. The Maverick should be similar.

Traction Motor Torque: 94 lb/ft. And it's getting it's juice from the generator. I know this because the battery SOC was not changing at this moment.

HV State of Charge: 44.7% and static (or within a couple tenths per minute).

Traction Motor Coil Temp: 154°F and about the peak of the day. Usually in the 140's.

Engine Torque: 171.9 lb/ft.

Engine RPM: 5123 (governed to 5600)

Engine Coolant: 207°F and about the peak of the day. Usually 190 to 200.

The generator gets hot because as engine rpm rises the generator rpm rises. The generator also gets hot because it rarely gets a rest. It rests while coasting / gliding downhill and when in EV mode. It cools rapidly when engine RPM is under 2500. It maintains a warm, but even steady temperature if you keep the power output needle at 50% or less.

When you try it, you will see you can do a helluva lot with the needle at 50% and under.

Sponsored

 

[GPSMan]

I know what's going to be asked eventually with all this high output driving. Here you go.

I still have my ~ 2.5 gallons of reserve past "E" but while towing, the reserve is worth half the distance. But I'm moving ~ double the mass. So I'm content.

 

[GPSMan]

Note:

108 + 138 = 246 miles to "empty".

246 miles / 17.8 mpg = 13.8 gallons.

 

[GPSMan]

Engine brake example:

Generator torque: 12 lb/ft. Positive because it is driving the engine without fuel as an air compressor.

Distinction: dash reads 999.9 MPG when in engine brake.

Generator speed high and engine speed high, automatically set to hold vehicle speed constant... "hill decent control icon" was lit.

Motor torque: -23 lb/ft. Negative because it is being driven by the wheels.

Battery: 71.4%. Battery is no longer taking regen. Battery is as full as allowed. 72% is max allowed. Perhaps the 71.4 and not 72.0 because I was running the air conditioning at the time of the photo.

I don't know what to make of the engine showing 22 lb/ft in the positive. Since it was being spun (driven) by the generator i would have expected that to be negative but maybe this sensor is only absolute value?

 

[tubalicious]

FYI: If your maverick is overheating you should pull over and leave it running. Not shut it off. If the overheating doesn't go away within a few minutes turn it off and get towed. Something broke.

The hybrid mav actively cools itself. It can't do that if you turn the engine off. (This is from what I remember from reading the manual)

 

[burger_time]

Nice data! It'll be interesting to see what changes they make if/when they offer a tow package for the hybrid and how much they rate it for.

 

[acelee1895]

In a future post, lets discuss WHY the generator is the weakest link. The answer may not be what you'd expect.

man, im loving this but why the click bait? you dont even need clicks

 

[acelee1895]

Adding information request about the overheating generator.
My plan was to use the almost not used generator at highway speeds to high wattage top off a solar generator (bluetti ac180) during the shorter trips I take.
For health, I go about 2 hrs travel and take half to whole day to visit places in extended stays before heading in a cycle back home a different way after a few days out.
If this would cause an issue to overheat generator, or help it by using energy spun up by a system already in motion? The DC-DC controller would be keep about half of capacity. 1500w MAX via sinewave inverter, for the first hour, then watt draw drops automatically as topped off.

The generator wouldn't be the limit for that. generator honestly would probably barely notice. You would hit the DC/DC converter limit(heat and fuse) before you hit the generator unit limit. I can tell you that the DC/DC converter should handle that load with no problem. it puts out 120 amps constant and peaks at 160 that I found

 

[TedTX]

The generator wouldn't be the limit for that. generator honestly would probably barely notice. You would hit the DC/DC converter limit(heat and fuse) before you hit the generator unit limit. I can tell you that the DC/DC converter should handle that load with no problem. it puts out 120 amps constant and peaks at 160 that I found

That is exactly what others have posted in my very first topic post a year ago. Other person quoted the found Ford numbers and it very safe. Thanks for confirming… now wiring up, been over a year now working on this, gathering facts, hearing back from the trailblazers.

 

[TedTX]

man, im loving this but why the click bait? you dont even need clicks

Lol, a man of our times, I wonder if he is a known YouTuber in like Sam or Test Driven. But, I am guessing, the answer is the Truck has a built in overhead to generate electricity even when no need exists and its causes a excessive in heat in cases. My plan was to bleed off that electrical production before its released as heat. Hince my question, I could be very wrong and backwards.

 

[RatherBeDrivingaManual]

I'd be more worried about their ability to stop/steer in an emergency.

I am not. The same platform can tow 4000.

It would be nice though if the hybrid had a 3000 Lb towing package to allow it more overhead for tongue weight.

 

[MaveRichard]

Thanks for all the data @GPSMan

Really shows what this little hybrid powertrain is capable of AND what the weak links are when(if) you find them.

Very cool!

 

[Xatorius]

FWIW, I don't have anywhere near the data provided but I can provide a real world towing example from my experience.

I took my hybrid from East TN to East Central FL (~11 hour drive) while towing my motorcycle. This was not max towing weight of course but still wanted to put this here as I feel its relevant to know how it preforms both at/above max weight and down within the suggested range.

Trailer: 5x8 Carry On, ~350 lbs (I think)
Bike: 2006 Vulcan Classic, ~650 lbs
Total weight: somewhere around ~1000 lbs
Average MPG: 24.5

Made 2 stops but probably could have made it one if I stretched things out a bit.

Coming out of TN on I-26 there's some fairly high grade hills but I felt the Maverick handled them with no trouble at all. Stayed ~55 mph range the whole trip through the mountains, 65-70 mph once out in the rolling hills and flats of I-26/95.

 

[Dad]

Excellent post! Very informative and helpful. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share your towing experiences.

 

[JJP]

Is there a pig tail for a brake controller on the hybrids like my Flex and Explorer?

Sponsored