Anyone drive their hybrid in low?

[Sanlucca]

Recently went from Florida to Pikes Peak in Colorado. My hybrid Mav groaned while going uphill during the 5-10 mph switchbacks and in regular mode I could smell the clutches 'warming'. I switched to trailer mode and all was fine.

But on the way down, used the Low option too. About 1/3 coming down is a mandatory brake check. Even with all that my brakes were 290 degrees. The park ranger said if they were 300 or more, they'd ask you pull off and let them cool.

So I live in the eastern pa, wv and eastern ohio. Had a bit of snow this year and L works great walking you down steep slick hills. Had to actually give it a little gas to keep some kind of speed. Never slid a bit.

Sponsored

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Recently went from Florida to Pikes Peak in Colorado. My hybrid Mav groaned while going uphill during the 5-10 mph switchbacks and in regular mode I could smell the clutches 'warming'. I switched to trailer mode and all was fine.

But on the way down, used the Low option too. About 1/3 coming down is a mandatory brake check. Even with all that my brakes were 290 degrees. The park ranger said if they were 300 or more, they'd ask you pull off and let them cool.

Just curious: Where in the eCVT are the clutches?

 

[TRUCKHEF]

Just curious: Where in the eCVT are the clutches?

There are none, I’m not entirely sure he knows what he’s talking about. I’m sure there was a smell and increased heat.

 

[Hardening2753]

but why? It sure seems to use regen braking more, more than in ECO mode even. Kind of reminds me of a Tesla in one foot driving mode.
I'm seriously wondering if it actually helps MPG.

Test it out and let us know!

 

[Hardening2753]

Can't vouch for its application to a CVT like we have in the Hybrid but in a normal automatic transmission it forces the vehicle to hold a lower gear. This keeps the engine revs higher and increases the amount of engine braking that occurs when you take your foot off the gas. Very useful for avoiding runaway speeds without having to ride the brakes and risk burning them out when you are descending a long steep grade. *Source* Many years of living in Phoenix, AZ and routinely escaping to the surrounding mountains to get out of the Summer heat.

Mavericks don't have CVT, they have eCVT and does not use the metal belt like CVTs. Honestly it's complicated but give it a go in YouTube

 

[Hardening2753]

Would using L help with off-roading?

 

[GPSMan]

Would using L help with off-roading?

Only on steep downhill above 10 mph to slow the vehicle.

 

[vap0rtranz]

Mavericks don't have CVT, they have eCVT and does not use the metal belt like CVTs. Honestly it's complicated but give it a go in YouTube

Exactly. Planetary gears. And yea I think there is a Ytuber whose taken apart one of Ford's HEV transaxles. The Mav is the 3rd or 4th gen of Ford's HEV transaxle depending on how you count them. (I drove the 1st which was put in the Escape in the 2010s.)

So the 4Lo gearing stuff makes no sense for the Mav hybrid setup. Perhaps that applies to the F-150 Powerboost?? it uses a completely different setup that we can't compare to the Mav Hybrid's eCVT with planetary gears.

I've used L when in town and NOBODY behind me. Like someone said, Ford may not have programmed the brake lights to pop on. Which is a shame.

There's plenty of us who've used 1 pedal to maximize MPGs in P/HEVs. It doesn't reduce MPGs in P/HEVs. But I wouldn't recommend for our Mavs until someone checks the brake light situation. Do they pop on in L at speeds <35 when the driver let's off the pedal, for example? Hate to even ask this because other manufacturers have correctly programmed brake lights in P/HEVs for 1 pedal driving (even Chevy), but I'm just as curious if Ford has.

 

[vap0rtranz]

Ah, found the Ytuber. Professor Kelly @ Weber U.

Here he takes apart Ford's 3rd generation hybrid transaxle:





I'll admit this is mostly over my head but perhaps smarter folks will enjoy and understand Kelly's teardown.

He also tore apart the 1st Gen that I drove back in the day with my Escape. That's how I remember him. So Mav Hybrids probably have the 4th gen of this setup ...

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Just curious: Where in the eCVT are the clutches?

I have one in each cheek!

 

[Silver23]

I have one in each cheek!

I don't get it

 

[Art Vandelay]

Funny this subject got brought up.

I used that feature for the first time yesterday going down from a 12% mountain pass.
It definitely slowed the truck way down, too much really. You definitely wouldnt want to use it just cruising around on public roads.

I was surprised how well the system worked without using the L button. It seemed to know how much regen braking to use depending on the steepness of the road. The flatter sections, which were probably still over 7%, saw the “transmission” easing up, allowing faster coasting.

I still used my brakes occasionally but much less than driving a standard automatic in Drive.

I have no idea how this works but the system seemed a lot smarter than I had read about, or seen, on YT videos.

That's very interesting, I thought I noticed my Hybrid Maverick acting differently on downhills. I am curious, when you were going down the mountain pass what driving mode were you using, Normal, Slippery, Eco, etc? I'm curious if there is a noticeable difference in driving modes when going down a steep hill.

 

[K5Blazer]

I leave my truck in Normal mode all the time. (Dry, rainy roads)
If the road gets steep enough to have to brake a lot I push the L button until the grade lessens again.

I shall experiment when I encounter snow/ice with the other modes.

I love this transmission. I’ve had multi speed automatic trannys, cvt’s, manuals. Paddle shifters on both automatic types.

I thought paddle shifters were the best thing yet for maintaining the desired speed on steep hills.

Then I got this eCVT tranny. I have a new favorite. It works like magic.

I came down the pass from Rocky Mountain National Park a couple days ago. In all but the steeper sections, where I hit the L button, the tranny/regen braking seemed to adjust itself perfectly.

As far as the brake light question, which keeps popping up, manual gearboxes do not actuate the brake lights when down shifting during deceleration.
Good drivers, using manuals, altered their speed with the transmission all the time, not only does it keep you in the proper powerband, it can also provided deceleration without using the brakes.

I don’t understand what the big deal is here. It is incumbent upon the driver behind you to observe your speed, regardless of brake lights. You are slowing down when you take your foot off the gas pedal aren’t you? Your brake lights don’t automatically go on then do they?

This whole quandary seems to be a non-existent problem looking for a solution.

Brake lights are just that. BRAKE lights.

 

[GPSMan]

I leave my truck in Normal mode all the time. (Dry, rainy roads)
If the road gets steep enough to have to brake a lot I push the L button until the grade lessens again.

I shall experiment when I encounter snow/ice with the other modes.

I love this transmission. I’ve had multi speed automatic trannys, cvt’s, manuals. Paddle shifters on both automatic types.

I thought paddle shifters were the best thing yet for maintaining the desired speed on steep hills.

Then I got this eCVT tranny. I have a new favorite. It works like magic.

I came down the pass from Rocky Mountain National Park a couple days ago. In all but the steeper sections, where I hit the L button, the tranny/regen braking seemed to adjust itself perfectly.

As far as the brake light question, which keeps popping up, manual gearboxes do not actuate the brake lights when down shifting during deceleration.
Good drivers, using manuals, altered their speed with the transmission all the time, not only does it keep you in the proper powerband, it can also provided deceleration without using the brakes.

I don’t understand what the big deal is here. It is incumbent upon the driver behind you to observe your speed, regardless of brake lights. You are slowing down when you take your foot off the gas pedal aren’t you? Your brake lights don’t automatically go on then do they?

This whole quandary seems to be a non-existent problem looking for a solution.

Brake lights are just that. BRAKE lights.

The lack of brake lights becomes an issue when you use Low for stopping on flat roads, when everyone else but you are using brakes and brake lamps. For this reason EV's do activate the brake lamps based on G-force (deceleration) regardless if the brake pedal is pressed or not. I think I read the trigger was -0.3 G.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I think I've got it figured out.
Low mode does give more regen but also seems to let the ICE engine rev a little higher. That's what it sounds and feels like anyway.

That's most likely engine braking using no gas and using engine as a Compressor.

Sponsored