Battery Level (hybrids)

[orot]

How do you know the level of charge on the batteries?

Sponsored

 

[TheWizziard]

There are a number of threads regarding this issue.
It is my understanding that it requires additional hardware to do so.

 

[MaveRichard]

Linear Logic ScanGauge III

 

[Old Ford Guy]

How do you know the level of charge on the batteries?

the short answer is that without aftermarket monitoring equipment you dont. the closest you will get with the built in instrumentation is as displayed by the dash monitor display which u can see when selected to EV Coach mode. here you will see a light blue box that indicates both how much throttle you can apply B4 activating the ICE and also i believe the length of said bar gets proportionally longer as the battery charge level increases..

i frequently make the same trip to my local neighborhood store for milk runs and such and the little EV coach bar is always longer on the way home than it is on the way there. we're talking about 2.5 miles each way. if i have not driven the truck yet that day i'm lucky to see >30 mpg, on the way there while on the way back home i routinely get >50mpg. and the drive is relatively flat in both directions coming and going. i drive almost exclusively in ECO mode for what its worth.

 

[orot]

the short answer is that without aftermarket monitoring equipment you dont. the closest you will get with the built in instrumentation is as displayed by the dash monitor display which u can see when selected to EV Coach mode. here you will see a light blue box that indicates both how much throttle you can apply B4 activating the ICE and also i believe the length of said bar gets proportionally longer as the battery charge level increases..

i frequently make the same trip to my local neighborhood store for milk runs and such and the little EV coach bar is always longer on the way home than it is on the way there. we're talking about 2.5 miles each way. if i have not driven the truck yet that day i'm lucky to see >30 mpg, on the way there while on the way back home i routinely get >50mpg. and the drive is relatively flat in both directions coming and going. i drive almost exclusively in ECO mode for what its worth.

Thank you. I have noticed the same thing.....after startup, milage sucks. after a few miles, improves to mid to upper forties, if I remember to switch to eco mode. have 6,000 miles on a 23 xlt. overall average has been 43.6 MPG. I consider that great

 

[Old Ford Guy]

Thank you. I have noticed the same thing.....after startup, milage sucks. after a few miles, improves to mid to upper forties, if I remember to switch to eco mode. have 6,000 miles on a 23 xlt. overall average has been 43.6 MPG. I consider that great

you're very welcome. i have wasted a lot of time trying to understand some of Ford's design decisions vis-a-vi which instrumentation displays they chose to include and which various vehicle status info they believe deserves the drivers attention. right now i'm semi obsessed with the 'power meter' that is the big round dial on the left where most vehicles have a Tach. i have found it very helpful in my efforts to get better mpg.

basically it seems that keeping the power usage as displayed by the power gage under 20% as much as possible and in the 'green' range whenever possible results in my best MPG. this seems far more effective when just running around town. when on road trips not so much.
but i'm confused as to what it's trying to ell me. when the power gage shows 50% does that mean i'm using 50% of combined electric + ICE power? or is it something else? what am i missing here?

i REALLY wish that the design team wasnt so opaque when it comes to the Hybrid battery charge level. i have the same beef with their minimalist explanations of what the actual practical effects of the different drive modes ,i.e. ECO vs normal? what exactly does the engine control module do to make the vehicle operate differently when going from one driving mode to another? i have about 2500 miles on my '23 Lariat Hybrid so far. so i'm still in the learning curve stage of ownership and hope i;ll understand these things better as time goes on.

 

[icegradner]

but i'm confused as to what it's trying to ell me. when the power gage shows 50% does that mean i'm using 50% of combined electric + ICE power?

The meter is combined hybrid power output of the electric drive motor and ICE, it's very simple to understand. If the ICE isn't on, it is only showing electric output. The hybrid coach shows electric power output (blue), and combined hybrid output as well if you want to see it as a bar.

As someone who has been driving hybrids for over 7 years now, it's really not all that helpful to look at the gauges like that, it's just another needless distraction while driving. If you aren't driving like a total jerk you should get great MPG with the hybrid. Getting mid 40s without trying in normal mode, even if I drive a little spirited from time to time, but mostly city/rural driving. On freeway trips more like 39-40MPG.

 

[Old Ford Guy]

The meter is combined hybrid power output of the electric drive motor and ICE, it's very simple to understand. If the ICE isn't on, it is only showing electric output. The hybrid coach shows electric power output (blue), and combined hybrid output as well if you want to see it as a bar.

As someone who has been driving hybrids for over 7 years now, it's really not all that helpful to look at the gauges like that, it's just another needless distraction while driving. If you aren't driving like a total jerk you should get great MPG with the hybrid. Getting mid 40s without trying in normal mode, even if I drive a little spirited from time to time, but mostly city/rural driving. On freeway trips more like 39-40MPG.

thanks for you explanation. Wifey just gets in it and drives and her MPG isnt that much worse than what i get in ECO mode.
i'm beginning to wonder if i too should just get in and drive the darn thing and let the MPG chase go?

 

[Maverick2023]

that EV coach screen never worked for me and I'm tired of chasing the 600 or 700 miles/tank. Now I just get in and drive in normal mode. Put it in sport mode when i need to get away from everyone else. Still averaging 42 mpg regardless of what I do or not do.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

I miss the battery icon on the C-Max, it has a vertical battery with a "fill" bar that fluctuates, and animation on the battery when Regen was doing it's thing. On downhill slopes it's fun to watch the battery fill up!

 

[MakinDoForNow]

What's interesting to watch is the power gage while in cruise between 30-50 mph pick normal, economy, or slippery (or even others). It will demonstrate how much acceleration you can do and get to speed quickly and how to drop to battery mode after getting there and still get 47-57mpg. Also try above in whichever drive mode with the Low button active. It's interesting and you may find engine braking occuring relatively soon. You can possibly get better mpg than cruise due to anticipating hill crests and upcoming turns so cruise on cruise off also can get 60+ mpg. On long down slopes tow haul can give better mpg presumably because it can more efficiently use engine braking sooner. But I am only guessing!

 

[K5Blazer]

As someone who has been driving hybrids for over 7 years now, it's really not all that helpful to look at the gauges like that, it's just another needless distraction while driving. If you aren't driving like a total jerk you should get great MPG with the hybrid.

I agree.

Remember the vacuum gauges disguised as MPG gauges? Total marketing bunk aimed at the clueless lead footed, hard braking people.


The right foot/brain connection is the correct gauge/readout.

Don't race from stoplight to stoplight, coast, or at least ease up on the gas pedal, when you see traffic slowing down and coming to a stop and don’t accelerate- brake-accelerate- brake-accelerate -brake all the time like most people do.

This fuel/energy saving style isn’t new or unique to hybrid Maverick owners. Those who know how to drive efficiently have been doing this for decades.

It works perfectly in hybrids.

I get 50 mpg all the time driving the same way way I have in all my other cars over the years.
I don’t need a stupid readout to tell me what to do every second.

 

[Gullzway]

It's on the secret screen on the Lariat Lux. HBATT on bottom left.

 

[GPSMan]

you're very welcome. i have wasted a lot of time trying to understand some of Ford's design decisions vis-a-vi which instrumentation displays they chose to include and which various vehicle status info they believe deserves the drivers attention. right now i'm semi obsessed with the 'power meter' that is the big round dial on the left where most vehicles have a Tach. i have found it very helpful in my efforts to get better mpg.

basically it seems that keeping the power usage as displayed by the power gage under 20% as much as possible and in the 'green' range whenever possible results in my best MPG. this seems far more effective when just running around town. when on road trips not so much.
but i'm confused as to what it's trying to ell me. when the power gage shows 50% does that mean i'm using 50% of combined electric + ICE power? or is it something else? what am i missing here?

i REALLY wish that the design team wasnt so opaque when it comes to the Hybrid battery charge level. i have the same beef with their minimalist explanations of what the actual practical effects of the different drive modes ,i.e. ECO vs normal? what exactly does the engine control module do to make the vehicle operate differently when going from one driving mode to another? i have about 2500 miles on my '23 Lariat Hybrid so far. so i'm still in the learning curve stage of ownership and hope i;ll understand these things better as time goes on.

Here's what I have found.

You can drive all day towing uphill on a 96 degree day, and if you keep the power meter 50% or less, nothing will overheat.

At 60% things will slowly climb in temperature. At 70-80% you should only be there a few minutes at a time.

Which is not hard to do.

Just try to keep your hybrid at above 50% power continuously for 10 minutes.
Bet you can't even if you wanted to.

 

[GPSMan]

Towing something big and heavy on flat highway, only 29% power is needed. MPG indicated should be proof enough of my towing!

Sponsored