Converting Hybrid to a plug in hybrid...

[Mike S]

Good mental floss!
Just brainstorming… An additional stock battery system( battery sensors etc) would extend the range in full electric with best chance of comparability. Charge port
Charging it or the stock battery would be the trick to do safely as well as switching or drawing from two sources
Our previous CMax energy had a 5kW battery and realistically could go 18 miles on full electric. So range on a 3 kWh battery might get one to 10 is miles depending on de controlled charge and depletion levels.

There was a firm building plug in hybrid upgrades to early Prius before factory offering.

Despite being a fan of PHEVs, I am waiting to see if Ford delivers on a factory plugin after MY 25 refresh.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on when Ford comes out with a PHEV or BEV version of the Maverick. When they do, I will upgrade. Until then I'm sticking with my stock Hybrid XLT.

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[Robert C]

The Maverick 1.1 kWh battery would only go for a mile or so, so what's the point? Even then the gas motor would kick on at higher speeds.
That's the first question people usually ask me when they hear I got a hybrid.
"How long will it go on just electric power?".
That and "did you get a charging station in your garage?"
No, that's a "plug in hybrid".
It shows they know nothing about a hybrid. Their concept of a hybrid is nothing like it is.
I think more people would be open to hybrids if it was generally know what they really are.
I don't insult them, just try to explain it - that the small battery is continually charged by the braking and gas motor and isn't suppose to run on electric power only.
They usually understand it better when you explain that's why it gets better mileage in city driving.
Or telling them a plug in hybrid usually has a battery 50 times the size - and a full EV 100 times the size.
They really should get out what a hybrid really is, they would sell more.

 

[Zotman]

dealers-to-gm-we-want-hybrids-5387d2bf

 

[SloopJB]

I own a Toyota RAV4 Prime SE, which is a PHEV. It comes with a 18.1 kwhr battery that yields about 48 miles between charges. It calculates to around 3.0 miles per kwhr. I love the vehicle and I Am averaging about 100 miles per gallon (gas) plus electricity of course. I have a small (16 kw) charger

I, like you, would love to have my Maverick as a PHEV, but given the battery size and other factors, it would take some significant redesign

 

[AutobahnSHO]

So you would need a bigger battery, cooling system for battery, integration of bigger battery into electric system. You'd need a charging system. Have to figure out software to make sure the truck can go on all electric longer (computer is expecting only a certain amount of battery, and everything is optimized towards that.)

Funny enough there are a bunch of engineers working on a PHEV Maverick- they work for a place called "Ford". https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-maverick-phev-awd-pickup-truck-spy-photos/

 

[MaveRichard]

Everyone is talking about the battery. This is certainly a factor. I think the bigger factor is the size(power & cooling) of the electric motors and the fundamental design decisions of this eCVT.

I could be getting the details wrong here, but I know there is one eCVT (Prius Prime, maybe) where there is a sprag clutch on the gas engine input to the eCVT that allows both electric motors to work together to power the vehicle forward. In our trucks, only one (the traction motor) can power the vehicle forward while the gas engine is off.

Interesting thought experiment but in practicality it falls apart IMO. With all that being said I would love to see someone try...

 

[710-oil-614]

Sorry I have no idea what HVB is.

Then you definitely aren't converting your HEV into a PHEV

 

[710-oil-614]

So you would need a bigger battery, cooling system for battery, integration of bigger battery into electric system. You'd need a charging system. Have to figure out software to make sure the truck can go on all electric longer (computer is expecting only a certain amount of battery, and everything is optimized towards that.)

Funny enough there are a bunch of engineers working on a PHEV Maverick- they work for a place called "Ford". https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-maverick-phev-awd-pickup-truck-spy-photos/

Eh, that was 18 months ago. No doubt a PHEV AWD maverick is coming but it is going to carry at $45k+ price tag.

 

[Deleted member 30736]

 

[Vmontello]

Then you definitely aren't converting your HEV into a PHEV

Wait... you didn't think I was looking for a DIY project did you? I've watched youtube videos of companies that design kits for conversion. Some are kits that convert ice to hev. Others from hev to phev. And these kits are installed by small garages who have been trained. I was looking to see if anyone had heard of a maverick kit.

 

[RedRider]

Wait... you didn't think I was looking for a DIY project did you? I've watched youtube videos of companies that design kits for conversion. Some are kits that convert ice to hev. Others from hev to phev. And these kits are installed by small garages who have been trained. I was looking to see if anyone had heard of a maverick kit.

While it would certainly be doable, you can probably assume that the kit will cost more than your whole vehicle. Just the big battery will set you back at least 1/2 of that. The market is so small after you factor out all of the people who want it for almost free, that nobody is going to make it available.

 

[Vettereddie]

The Escape Plug-In hybrid uses the same 2.5L as the Maverick and is FWD. Path of least resistance would probably be to get a wrecked /salvaged title donor, swap the applicable bits and hope Ford is big on parts bin re-use for compatibility. Without a good breakdown of sensors, harnesses, computer modules and mounting brackets I have no idea how big of a job it would be. Forscan reprogramming would be a given.

 

[LSchicago]

You would need a Huge battery for the high voltage system. Battery alone is probably $5-10K easy. Then you would need to add the PHEV connector, and rewrite the entire Hybrid strategy in the computer. Better to wait for Ford. PHEV Maverick Should be coming by 2028, could be here next year.

 

[Vettereddie]

Eh, that was 18 months ago. No doubt a PHEV AWD maverick is coming but it is going to carry at $45k+ price tag.

Can't speak for AWD but the gas-powered Escape starts at $29k and the PEV is $40k. With the Mav starting at $24k I could see a FWD PEV being offered in the $35k ballpark. AWD would probably top the $40k mark due to the need for an additional electric motor and presumably battery capacity. For comparison, the 2023 Crosstrek AWD PEV was $37k MSRP, and no longer offered for 2024. it lasted all of one year due to cost over the standard hybrid and poor electric range.

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